PRIME MINISTER

Lisa Dorrian

Lady Hermon: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what role the Police Service of Northern Ireland underwater search unit is playing in the investigation of the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officers on the investigation into the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian.

Tony Blair: I understand that the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) have employed a number of resources, including the PSNI underwater search unit, over the past year in the investigation into Lisa Dorrian's disappearance. This remains an on-going police investigation and my hon. Friend the Policing and Security Minister for Northern Ireland (Mr.Woodward) receives regular updates. Given the hon. Lady's interest in this case, I have asked my hon. Friend to keep her updated, within the necessary constraints given that this is an ongoing police investigation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

China

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in China.

Ian Pearson: The Government has serious concerns about a wide range of human rights issues in China. These are set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights report. We raise our concerns with the Chinese Government regularly, including through the UK China Human Rights Dialogue, ministerial engagement and EU mechanisms. We acknowledge that the Chinese Government has recently done much to reduce poverty and promote economic development.

China

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in China.

Ian Pearson: China has done much in recent years to reduce poverty and promote economic development. But serious human rights problems remain.
	The Government raises these concerns with the Chinese Government regularly, including through the UK China Human Rights Dialogue, ministerial engagement and EU mechanisms.

Cuba

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the work of Caleb McCarry, US-Cuba Transition Co-ordinator, on UK-Cuban relations.

Douglas Alexander: The UK, with EU partners, adopted a Common Position on Cuba in 1996. This has not changed. It is a clear statement of the UK/EU policy of constructive engagement to achieve political and economic reform in Cuba, including human rights.

Cuba

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1702W, to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington East, on Cuba if he will name the main non-official Cuban human rights organisation referred to; where it is based; and from what sources it receives its funding.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The main non-official Cuban human rights organisation referred to of 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1702W, on Cuba, is the Comision Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliacion Nacional (CCDHRN). This is a long-standing, independent organisation, which presents up-to-date information on human rights in Cuba, particularly on political prisoners and the death penalty. CCDHRN is based in Havana and run by Elizardo Sanchez Santacruz, Cuba's best known human rights monitor and a former political prisoner. It is not recognised by the Cuban state. CCDHRN has developed close links with the international media and human rights NGOs, including Amnesty International, and we understand it has a number of funding sources although its running costs are very small.

Middle East

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he has taken of the Hamas charter in assessing Hamas's acceptability as a partner for peace in the middle east.

Kim Howells: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 1 February: We will not be able to take the process forward if one of the partners has in its constitution the desire to get rid of the other partner. Hamas faces a fundamental choice. If they choose democracy and peace, and work side by side with Israel, then we stand ready to take the process forward.

Middle East

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on democracy in the middle east.

Kim Howells: We are working hard, bilaterally and multilaterally through the EU and G8, to support democratic political and economic reforms in the middle east and strengthen civil society's role in public life. Almost every Arab country now has some form of democratic legislative assembly, and more women in Government positions. It is in our interest to promote democracy and freedom as essential ingredients for economic success and the reduction of poverty.

Middle East

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU colleagues on the results of the elections in the Palestinian territories.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the results of the Palestinian election with his EU counterparts on 30 January.
	The EU expects the new Palestinian Government to be committed to a peaceful and negotiated solution of the conflict with Israel based on existing agreements and the Roadmap as well as to the rule of law, reform and sound fiscal management.

Afghanistan

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: Afghanistan has made remarkable political progress since 2001. Last year saw parliamentary and provincial elections and the inauguration of the National Assembly, building on the presidential election in 2004. This progress was recognised at last week's London Conference on Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Compact, launched at the Conference, commits the Afghan Government and international community to an ambitious progress of further reconstruction.

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: Afghanistan has made remarkable political progress since 2001. Last year saw parliamentary and provincial elections and the inauguration of the National Assembly, building on the presidential election in 2004. This progress was recognised at last week's London Conference on Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Compact launched at the Conference, commits the Afghan Government and international community to an ambitious progress of further reconstruction.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the strength is of (a) the Afghan National Police and (b) the Afghan Border Police; what the expected rate is of annual increase in manpower for each; and what assessment his Department has made of what additional crime-fighting equipment will be required to meet the target of a fully functioning combined force of 62,000 personnel by 2010.

Kim Howells: As of 31 December 2005, 49,300 national police, 1,500 highway police, 5,600 border police, and 500 Counter-Narcotics police (CNPA) had been trained and deployed. At 31 December 2005, 2,367 national police, 79 highway police, 597 border police and 25 CNPA were undergoing training. On current schedules, by 1 June 2006, 55,650 national police, 1,850 highway police, 9,600 border police, and 600 CNPA will have been trained, a combined force of 67,380.
	Germany, which is responsible for co-ordinating international assistance to the Afghan Government's police reform programme, the Afghan Government and Qatar, are co-hosting an international conference on police reform in Afghanistan, in Doha on 27–28 February. The focus of the conference is regional police co-operation and the role of the Afghan Border Police in managing Afghanistan's borders. The conference also aims to reach agreement on priority activities to support the further development of the combined Afghan National Police, in terms of institutional capacity-building and the provision of equipment to meet current and future needs. The UK will participate in the conference and will subsequently consider how it can continue to support reform of the Afghan National Police.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the total strength of illegal armed groups in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: We have made no independent assessment of the numbers or strength of Illegal Armed Groups in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan New Beginnings Programme (ANBP), the mechanism through which the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations Development Programme and the international community support the Government of Afghanistan's efforts to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate former Afghan Military Force members, estimates that there are 2,000 groups with a total strength of up to 100,000 members. 579 of these groups are already engaged in the disarmament and demobilisation programme. The UK is represented on the ANBP international co-ordinating body and has contributed over £12 million to the ANBP and separate weapons destruction programmes since 2002. Further information is available on the ANBP website at http://www.undpan.bp.org.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what quantity of drugs was seized in Afghanistan during 2005, broken down by type of narcotic.

Kim Howells: We estimate that the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan and the Afghan Special Narcotics Force have seized around 165 tonnes of opiates since November 2004. However, seizure figures since 2001 have been unreliable, due to difficulties in collating data centrally within Afghanistan. Additionally, forensic facilities are not yet widely available in Afghanistan and so Afghan police are often unable to accurately identify substances or record the quantities. We are unable, therefore, to provide a breakdown of types of narcotics seized.

Caribbean Sugar Producers

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to obtain EU support for vulnerable Caribbean sugar producers.

Douglas Alexander: We welcomed December's agreement to €40 million transitional assistance for the first year (2006) for countries affected by reform of the EU sugar regime, in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Discussions are now starting on detailed allocations for 2007–13. We are pressing for significantly higher assistance for this period. We have also been working with the countries affected to help draw up country plans through which this assistance will be delivered.

Cyprus

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a settlement of the situation in Cyprus.

Douglas Alexander: The UN Secretary-General recently stated there had been negligible" progress towards a settlement.
	I welcomed his statement, on the eve of my recent visit to Cyprus, reiterating his commitment to a comprehensive settlement.
	I urge the two communities to resume their dialogue and for progress to be made on all fronts.

Niger Delta

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Niger Delta.

Ian Pearson: The security situation in the Niger Delta remains tense following recent attacks on oil installations and the kidnapping, and subsequent release on 30 January, of four foreign oil workers. We are and will remain in close contact with the Nigerian authorities. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke personally to President Obasanjo of Nigeria on 21 January about the situation.

G8 Summit (Gleneagles)

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking at EU level to ensure that the agreements reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles are taken forward.

Douglas Alexander: The December European Council agreed the EU-Africa Strategy to take forward many key Gleneagles commitments on Africa. The Strategy is a comprehensive overview of the EU's support to Africa in promoting peace and security and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and will provide strategic direction to the EU on its partnership with Africa. It includes commitments on peace and security, governance, sustainable economic growth and trade, investing in people and development assistance.
	The UK also used its presidency of the G8 and the EU to ensure that climate change was pushed up the EU agenda. We worked to ensure that, on energy efficiency for example, the EU and G8 approaches were mutually complimentary. We are working to ensure that the progress made during the 2005 EU Summits with India, China, Canada and Russia, and at the Gleneagles summit, continues. In December 2005, the UK was instrumental in producing a clear EU position and a successful overall outcome at the UN Climate Change meetings in Montreal.

HIV/AIDS (China)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the incidence of HIV/AIDS in China; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Chinese Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) jointly announced new HIV and AIDS estimates on 25 January. They estimate that 650,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS. There were 70,000 new infections, and 25,000 deaths from AIDS, in 2005. Although this figure is less than the previous estimate in 2003 of 840,000, it represents a better estimation rather than a decline in prevalence. Working with China to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS is a priority for our DFID China programme.

Iran

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other EU governments on a diplomatic solution to the situation regarding Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Iran's nuclear programme with his EU counterparts at the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 30 January. On the same day, he and his French and German colleagues discussed Iran with their US, Russian and Chinese counterparts in London. He has also discussed Iran with Ministers attending a conference about Afghanistan on 31 January, and in routine bilateral meetings.

Iran

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Iran's support for terrorist groups; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We remain deeply concerned by Iran's approach to terrorism and the nature of its relationship with Lebanese Hizballah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. We are also deeply concerned by and continue to investigate Iran's links to extremist groups in Iraq. We have pressed Iran to renounce all support for groups using terror and violence. We have urged Iran to act against members of Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups using Iran as a transit route or refuge, and to co-operate actively with the international community against them.

Nursery Schemes

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to the United Kingdom of nursery schemes for the children of EC staff.

Jack Straw: None. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office runs nurseries in London and Hanslope Park for its own staff and contributes towards the cost of nursery attendance for children of its staff overseas. It has no knowledge of nursery schemes for EC staff.

Overseas Territories

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will change the eligibility criteria for EU and UK funding for each of the overseas territories (a) to exclude per capita income to take account of their small population size and (b) to include the vulnerability of their micro-economy to outside circumstances beyond their control; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	DFID already recognises that a wide range of circumstances present significant development challenges to the overseas territories (OT) including small size, isolation and access, limited human resource capacity and vulnerability to external shocks. Funding decisions are not based only, or even primarily, on per capita income criteria, but with limited resources prioritisation is inevitable towards those territories which most need development assistance.
	The main focus for DFID's support are Montserrat, St. Helena and Pitcairn. None are able to raise sufficient revenue to balance their recurrent budget so we provide budgetary aid to help them do so. We combine this with a development programme to help increase revenue and manage recurrent expenditure efficiently. We do however also provide assistance to other territories through our cross-cutting programme which provides support for a range of activities that are common to many or all of the OTs. These programmes include natural disaster management, environment protection, HIV/AIDS, law revision and child protection. All OTs benefit in some way from this assistance.
	EU programmes have to a large extent focused on those overseas countries and territories whose economic development is least advanced, with wealth per capita criteria being the main deciding factors for allocations. However we are currently in discussion with the European Commission about the arrangements for continued funding for the OTs when the current allocations end after 2007. These discussions have included the commissioning of a study to look at a range of criteria, in addition to gross national income (GNI) per capita, to help determine the allocation of EU development funds to individual territories. We are also working to ensure that, overall, OTs receive an equitable allocation within the total available for EU development funding.

Regulatory Reform Orders

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulatory reform orders his Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

Jack Straw: None.

Russian Federation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of whether the practice of the Russian Federation meets the standards of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Douglas Alexander: The obligations of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on a signatory depend on whether it has ratified the treaty, is applying it provisionally or has opted out of provisional application. The Russian Federation has not ratified the Treaty but has agreed to provisional application in accordance with Article 45 of the Treaty. This places some obligations on the Russia Federation, but only to the extent that such provisional application is not inconsistent with its constitution, laws or regulations. An assessment of whether a particular signatory of the ECT meets its provisions could be made by individual companies, the Energy Charter Secretariat or other signatories or Contracting Parties. It is a particular feature of the Treaty that companies can take direct action against signatories if they are in dispute on a matter covered by the Treaty.
	The Government takes an active interest in the implementation of the Treaty's obligations by signatories, in particular through the work undertaken by the Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat, but has not undertaken assessment of any particular signatory.

Russian Federation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Government policy to encourage that the Russian Federation ratify the Energy Charter Treaty.

Douglas Alexander: The Government have consistently encouraged the Russian Federation to ratify the Energy Charter Treaty and we continue to hope that they will do so.

Russian Federation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on the RussianFederation's ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Douglas Alexander: Energy security formed an important part of the discussions that took place on 3 October during the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC), co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and on 4 October during the EU-Russia summit, hosted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The discussion at the PPC included Russian ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty. Energy Minister Viktor Krishtenko led the Russian delegation to the PPC. President Putin led the delegation to the EU-Russia summit, accompanied by Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Turkey

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing the language rights of Kurdish speakers in Turkey since the agreement to begin talks on Turkish accession to the EU.

Douglas Alexander: Reforms in Turkey have strengthened Kurdish rights, but progress since 2004 has been limited. Last December Turkey's Radio and Television High Council re-iterated their commitment to allowing local broadcasting in non-Turkish languages. Progress in Turkey's negotiations for accession to the European Union will depend on measures taken in a range of areas including the need to protect the rights of all citizens. We will continue to press the Turkish Government to extend the rights of the Kurds in Turkey.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Poultry

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many poultry owners in Northamptonshire are registered with her Department; and what the flock size is of each registered poultry owner.

Ben Bradshaw: pursuant to the reply, 19 December 2005, Official Report, c. 2386W
	This answer was incorrect. The answer that we originally provided drew on a combination of state veterinary service (SVS) data and local knowledge. It is clear that our answer should have been based on information from the Great Britain Poultry Register, which was launched on 9 December 2005. The revised answer provides information from this source.
	As of midnight on 20 December 2005, four poultry owners in Northamptonshire have registered eligible poultry premises on the new GB poultry register. The total numbers of poultry on each registered premises in Northamptonshire are as follows:
	(1) 84 Chickens, 1 Duck, 2 Geese
	(2) 195 Chickens
	(3) 7,000 Turkeys
	(4) 83 Chickens
	Eligible premises are required to register by 28 February 2006.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church Legislation

Andrew Selous: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what assessment the Commissioners have made of the extent to which the recent use of ministerial orders to amend church legislation has modified the convention that Parliament does not legislate for the Church of England without its consent.

Stuart Bell: The recent amendment of Church legislation by Orders made by ministers under the Civil Partnership Act 2005 was handled entirely consistently with the convention that Parliament does not legislate for the Church of England without its consent. Consent was given on behalf of the Church, by the House of Bishops and the Archbishops' Council, both to the inclusion in the Act of the powers enabling ministers to make consequential and other changes to Church legislation and then to the specific changes to be made in reliance on those powers.

Ecclesiastical Law (Human Rights)

Andrew Selous: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what procedures are followed for the drafting of laws in response to judgments of the European Court of Human Rights which affect matters traditionally within the sphere of ecclesiastical law.

Stuart Bell: The European Court of Human Rights has not, to date, held any legislation specific to the Church of England to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Were it to do so, or were any such legislation considered to be incompatible having regard to a finding of the European Court of Human Rights, an assessment would need to be made in consultation with ministers of the changes needed to ensure compatibility and the most appropriate form of legislation required to do so.
	In the event of the European Court of Human Rights making a finding of incompatibility in relation to some aspect of the general law which bore significantly upon the life of the Church, the Church would expect to be consulted, in the usual way, before ministers exercised the power conferred by s.10 Human Rights Act 1998. The Church has been consulted in this way as part of ministers' consideration of the implications of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in B and L v. United Kingdom, in which the Court held that the prohibitions under the Marriage Act 1949 on marriages between a person and the parent of their former spouse and between a person and the former spouse of their child were incompatible with Article 12 of the Convention.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how his Department is liaising with non-governmental organisations operating in Afghanistan on reconstruction.

Hilary Benn: DFID is currently providing over 70 per cent. of its total programme funding (£100 million) in 2005–06 through the Government of Afghanistan. The other 30 per cent. of our programme is channelled directly to service providers, including non-governmental organizations (NGO)s, consultants, and multilateral agencies. However, a large amount of the work we fund through the Government is implemented on their behalf by NGOs. DFID also funds NGO work in Afghanistan through its central Civil Society Challenge Fund, and through Programme Partnership Agreements with leading UK NGOs.
	In order to reach more remote and insecure areas, DFID works alongside locally based organisations to promote conflict prevention and stabilisation. This kind of community outreach encourages local organisations to identify areas of need which can then be implemented through community managed projects. The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (a trilateral fund shared by DFID, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), is also active in funding local initiatives aimed at enhancing the prospects of peace and security.
	DFID maintains regular dialogue with NGOs on security problems and other challenges to operating in Afghanistan. We also discuss wider policy issues with them. Most recently we co-funded a Civil Society Conference in Kabul which engaged Afghan civil society (including NGOs) in consultation on the Interim-Afghanistan National Development Strategy and sent two civil society representatives to the London Conference on Afghanistan on 31 January-1 February.

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's priorities are for the (a) rebuilding of infrastructure and (b) establishment of criminal justice agencies in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: The rebuilding of Afghanistan cannot be achieved without significant investments in infrastructure; but given the scale of resources required, and the importance of donors working to their respective comparative advantages, we believe other donors are better placed to make these investments. The USA, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan in particular are investing in Afghanistan's infrastructure sector. A component of DFID's livelihoods work does however include support for small scale rural infrastructure, and for road construction through emergency employment and rural access programmes.
	The re-establishment of a functioning justice system is widely acknowledged to be essential to improving security and stability in Afghanistan. DFID has been engaged in the development of the Afghan Government's 'Justice for All Strategy' which outlines what needs to be done to re-establish a fully functioning justice system, including for criminal justice. DFID together with other UK Government Departments is specifically engaged in strengthening those aspects of the criminal justice system which relate directly to investigation, prosecution and detention of those engaged in the trade in illicit narcotics.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the items of departmental property worth over £100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: For the period 1 January to 31 December 2005, the following items with a value of £100 or more were either (a) lost or (b) broken in DFID.
	
		
			 Description Value (£) 
		
		
			 (a) Lost  
			 Lap Top Computer 700 
			 Computer Monitor Screen 417 
			 Mobile Phone 100 
			 Plumbing Fittings 1,583 
			 Mobile Phone 100 
			 Lap Top Computer 1,000 
			 Lap Top Computer 550 
			 Lap Top Computer 1,500 
			 Mobile Phone 150 
			 Mobile Phone 100 
			 Mobile Phone 100 
			 Lap Top Computer 1,200 
			 Digital Camera 206 
			 Office Equipment 1,932 
			 Satellite Phone 500 
			 Lap Top Computer 250 
			   
			 (b) Broken  
			 Portable Exhibition Display Stand 1,986

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many departmental employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: A total of 11 departmental employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in the past five calendar years from the Department for International Development. On grounds of confidentiality, we are unable to disclose the individual yearly totals as there were less than five ill health retirements in each of the past five years.

Food Shortages

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department takes to assist states facing food shortages due to locusts.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has a group of humanitarian advisers at regional and country level that monitor the food situation and the potential for food crises across Africa.
	Where abnormal locust infestations threaten food security, DFID can provide support for ad-hoc locust control operations. For example, in 2004 DFID committed £1.5 million channelled through the United Nations Food Agriculture Organisation towards the emergency locust control operations in the Sahel Region.
	Where locusts or other natural disasters destroy crops which result in widespread food shortages, DFID also supports the United Nations and non-governmental organisations to deliver relief, for example, in Sahel in 2005, DFID allocated £4.9 million for emergency food and nutrition interventions.

HIV Prevention Goal

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions the Government have taken to help countries achieve the global prevention goal to reduce HIV prevalence among young men and women aged 15 to 24 years, by 2005.

Gareth Thomas: The UK played a key role in securing support for the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) prevention policy Intensifying HIV prevention" at its June 2005 programme co-ordination board, which I attended. This policy clearly emphasises the importance of evidence-informed prevention, including linking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV programmes and access to SRH supplies including female condoms, and tackling harm reduction.
	Building on this, as EU president, we steered and secured agreement on the first EU wide policy Statement on HIV Prevention launched on World AIDS day 2005. This important document affirms the commitment of all 25 European member states to comprehensive and evidence based HIV prevention programming including:
	Universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services;
	Reliable access to essential sexual and reproductive health supplies including condoms;
	Universal access to education and life skills and sexuality education;
	Action to confront and address gender-based violence;
	Provision of accessible and integrated health promotion and harm reduction services for drug users.
	Also on World AIDS Day 2005, the UK Government published a paper on Harm reduction—tackling drug use and HIV in the developing world". The paper builds on cross-Government consensus on harm reduction, ensuring a coordinated and collaborative UK approach.
	Harm reduction refers to policies, strategies and programmes designed to reduce the harm associated with the use of psychoactive substances, including illicit drugs. Actions include:
	Needle and syringe access to reduce opportunities for HIV transmission by removing the need to share injecting equipment;
	Drug substitution therapy providing orally administered drugs to reduce the need for injections; and
	Information and advice on sexual and reproductive health.
	Harm reduction activities provide an important entry point for interventions such as condom distribution, voluntary counselling and testing, peer education on safer sex and reproductive health. In addition to strong policy and strategy directions, the UK has invested in a number of aid instruments which are helping to secure effective HIV prevention outcomes. This includes our substantial investments in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, (£100 million annually in 2006 and 2007) the World Bank and in new prevention technologies (International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, International Partnership on Microbicides and the Microbicides Development Programme).
	Across Africa, DFID's 16 priority country programmes 1 are working with national partners to deliver comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care services. The main focus has been to strengthen national multi-sectoral responses in line with the Three Ones 2 ". Within this our programmes strengthen national HIV prevention efforts such as ensuring a stable supply of sexual and reproductive health services and commodities including male and female condoms. For example, DFID's £20 million HIV programme (STARZ) works with the Government of Zambia's national HIV and AIDS programme to provide reproductive health supplies, including condoms and education materials for HIV prevention, along with expansion of prevention of mother to child transmission programmes. In Uganda, we are funding civil society organisations such as TASO to provide prevention services such as youth clubs, radio talks, peer education workshops along with provision of care (counselling, clinical services, child support) to people living with AIDS .
	Brazil's success in stabilising its AIDS epidemic within a decade is an acknowledged model for the developing world. Using the two principles of a rights based approach for people living with HIV and AIDS, and full dialogue and involvement of civil society, prevalence rates in Brazil are less than half the level estimated by the World Bank 10 years ago. The 15 to 24-years age group receive priority attention in AIDS education and health promotion initiatives, with a strong focus on mass media campaigns, backed up with small group education and condom distribution. DFID is now supporting the Brazil programme to provide technical assistance to AIDS programmes in other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
	In the Caribbean, as in many places, stigma and discrimination is driving the epidemic. There are particular concerns that young women in the 15 to 24-years age group are now twice as likely as their male peers to be infected with HIV. DFID has been funding a Champions for Change" programme, designed to encourage political, community and faith-based leaders to speak out against stigma and discrimination directed towards people living with HIV and AIDS, sex workers and men who have sex with men. Early signs, from the UNAIDS Epidemic Update (December 2005) show that overall prevalence may be starting to reach a plateau, though much remains to be done to continue and expand this improving trend.
	DFID supports the response to AIDS in nine countries in Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Burma (through the UN). HIV in these countries is less than 1 per cent. (with the exception of Cambodia where the incidence and prevalence rates of HIV are now falling, and Burma where measurement is particularly challenging). The relevant UN targets in these countries are therefore the prevalence rates in vulnerable groups rather than in the general population aged 15 to 24. Much of DFID's effort in these countries is directed towards prevention. This includes supporting evidence of modes of transmission and trends in spread of infection in emerging epidemics. We are also supporting the targeted delivery of services to vulnerable groups such as injecting drug users, sex workers and their clients and men who have sex with men.
	1 Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
	2 One agreed AIDS Action Framework for each country that drives alignment of all partners; One national AIDS authority, with a broad-based multi-sectoral mandate; One agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system.

Press Coverage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions since 1 April 2003 he has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of (a) Ministers or officials and (b) his Department; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has not made any complaints to the Press Complaints Commission during this period.

TRANSPORT

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget the Highways Agency has identified for compulsory purchase orders along the A21 in East Sussex in (a) 2005–06 and (b) each year from 2006–07 to 2010–11.

Stephen Ladyman: The budget for the Targeted Programme of Improvements does not include any schemes on the A21.
	The Proposed Route for the A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge Improvement was announced in February 2005 and this has triggered the option for property owners directly affected by the proposals to submit a Blight Notice to the Highways Agency, requesting them to buy their property.
	Further development of the scheme is dependent upon the outcome of the Regional Prioritisation exercise and subsequent ministerial announcement.
	The agency currently has a provision of £10 million for qualifying cases in the financial year 2005–06, with a further £5 million forecast for 2006–07.

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Highways Agency has to rent out properties purchased under compulsory purchase orders along the A21 between Flimwell and Robertsbridge.

Stephen Ladyman: A compulsory purchase order has not yet been published for this scheme. The Proposed Route for the A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge Improvement was announced in February 2005 and this has triggered the option for property owners directly affected by the proposals to submit a Blight Notice to the Highways Agency, requesting them to buy their property.
	Properties that qualify and are acquired through this process are being rented out as soon as possible through the agency's managing agent.

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Chief Executive of the South East England Development Agency regarding the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge.

Stephen Ladyman: The Chief Executive of the South East England Development Agency wrote to the Highways Agency on 4 March 2003 in response to the public consultation on the A21 South of Pembury to Hastings, which included proposals for upgrading the route between Flimwell and Robertsbridge.

Air Traffic (Noise and Pollution)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternatives to runway alteration he will propose to provide respite from air traffic noise and pollution; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: Options for introducing mixed mode at Heathrow are still being developed. There will be public consultation on any proposals and this will address the implications for runway alternation, as currently operated, and any mitigation measures.

Consultancy Contracts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultancy contracts worth more than £100,000 have been entered into by (a) his Department, (b) the Highways Agency, (c) the Strategic Rail Authority and (d) the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority in each of the past five years; and what work the contracts covered.

Karen Buck: The Department follows central guidance on awarding contracts set out by the Office of Government Commerce. Projects are only contracted out where they require specialist advice that cannot be provided in house. All contracts are awarded following a competitive tendering process in order to ensure value for money.
	A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House listing the contracts in excess of £100,000 which have been entered into, since the Department was created in May 2002.

Fixed Penalties

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much has been raised through fixed penalties for (a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) public service vehicle operators since January 2004;
	(2)  how much money his Department expects to raise from fixed penalties for HGV and PSV operators in 2007–08.

Stephen Ladyman: At present the only fixed penalties that apply to HGVs and PSVs are those that apply to all motorists, for example for moving traffic offences such as speeding or using a mobile phone. The penalties are levied on the driver rather than the operator. There is no breakdown available that indicates how many of these fixed penalties are paid by drivers of HGVs and PSVs.
	The Road Safety Bill contains enabling provisions for a system of graduated fixed penalties for offences specific to the operation of HGVs and PSVs, for example overloading and exceeding driver's hours limits. The amount of revenue from the fixed penalty scheme will depend on the levels for fixed penalties and the range of offences for which they will be used. These details will be settled after a public consultation.

Heathrow (Sustainable Development)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow; and when he expects the project to report.

Karen Buck: The work continues, to programme the technical review of current air quality around Heathrow and the approach to future assessment is largely complete. We expect to publish a full report on this shortly, following peer review. This will put us in a stronger position to re-assess the likely position at Heathrow under different scenarios in future years. We are continuing to examine measures to address surface access and noise in the event of further development, including a short third runway and the possible introduction of mixed mode.
	Details of the work programme are on the Department for Transport's website and further papers will be published on the website as work progresses, in accordance with the Department's publication scheme. We expect to be reaching some conclusions later this year.

Motorway Signs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department has issued regarding the use of overhead electronic gantry signs on motorways for messages other than those related to relevant traffic conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Variable Message Signs (VMS) are generally used to display real time traffic information to help drivers complete their journeys safely and efficiently. They give warning of slow moving traffic and queues as well as delays, and give motorists the opportunity to make decisions in-journey.
	VMS are also used to display safety campaign messages such as DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING and MAKE TIME FOR A BREAK.
	VMS can also be used to provide accurate information for the motorist, to reduce the effects of congestion. They can give information about possible congestion from major events likely to have a significant effect on the motorway. This type of information is given near to the location Where congestion may occur, for the journey in question.

Multi-modal Studies

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) West Midlands to East Midlands, (b) West Midlands and (c) East Midlands Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(2)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) A453, (b) A52, (c) A34 and (d) M60 Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(3)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) London to South Midlands, (b) London orbital and (c) Thames Valley Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(4)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) Cambridge to Huntingdon, (b) Norwich to Peterborough and (c) London to Ipswich Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(5)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) M1 North/South, (b) south coast and (c) access to Hastings Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(6)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) South-West area, (b) South-East Manchester and (c) West Midlands to North-West Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(7)  how much his Department contributed to the (a) Hull (East-West Corridor), (b) South and West Yorkshire and (c) Tyneside Multi-modal Studies; what the total cost was of carrying out each study; which of each study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced;
	(8)  how much his Department contributed to the A1 Multi-modal Study; what the total cost was of carrying out the study; which of the study's recommendations have been approved by his Department; and in which recommended areas construction work has commenced.

Stephen Ladyman: The cost of each Multi-modal Study funded by the Department for Transport is set out in the following table
	The Multi-modal Studies were strategic transport studies which developed recommendations for implementation over the short, medium and longer term up to 2031. Many of the schemes recommended required further detailed development and appraisal work before being ready for implementation. In our responses to the Multi-modal Studies we set out the way in which we wished to see the study recommendations taken forward by the relevant delivery agencies.
	Our responses to the Studies were placed in the Library of the House at the time of the announcements. I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 February 2006, Official Report, columns 658–62W, to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) which shows the schemes recommended by the Multi-modal Studies that have reached the stage of Programme Entry or equivalent with agreed funding allocations.
	
		Cost of Multi-modal Studies
		
			 Study Cost (£ million) 
		
		
			 Tranche 1  
			 Access to Hastings 0.6 
			 Cambridge to Huntingdon 1.1 
			 South East Manchester 1.2 
			 West Midlands Area 1.0 
			 West Midlands to North West (M6) 2.0 
			 London to South West and South Wales 1.8 
			 Tyneside Area 1.4 
			 South and West Yorkshire Motorway Box 2.5 
			 A453 1.3 
			 North South Movements in the East Midlands (Ml) 1.8 
			 Transport Solutions Around London (M25) 3.7 
			 Sub total 18.4 
			   
			 Tranche 2  
			 South Coast Corridor 1.7 
			 Thames Valley 1.2 
			 M60 Junction 12–18 1.4 
			 A1 North of Newcastle 0.7 
			 Hull East/West Corridor 0.9 
			 London to Ipswich (A12) 1.4 
			 London to South Midlands 3.0 
			 West Midlands to East Midlands 1.8 
			 Sub total 12.1 
			   
			 Tranche 3  
			 Norwich to Peterborough 0.9 
			 A34 North from Southampton (Scoping Study) 0.01 
			 A52 Corridor 0.8 
			 Sub total 1.71 
			 Total 32.21

Piracy

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to tackle piracy on the coast of Devon.

Stephen Ladyman: The UK Government has published on the Department's website a counter-piracy strategy which sets out the actions that it has committed to taking to tackle the menace of piracy. However, the Department has not been notified of any act of piracy on the coast of Devon.

Ports/Airports (Critical Infrastructure Protection)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what actions he proposes to take in UK ports and airports in pursuance of the EU policy on critical infrastructure protection.

Karen Buck: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The European Commission's proposals in respect of Critical Infrastructure protection are currently in the form of a Green Paper. The UK Government has recently submitted its comments.
	The Commission will be considering these, and other member states' comments, before developing its policy further.
	UK ports and airports are already subject to EU and national standards on security and we will continue to ensure that such standards are maintained.

Public Service Agreement

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to publish the baseline figure for Public Service Agreement target 1 to make journeys more reliable on the strategic road network by 2007–08.

Stephen Ladyman: We expect to publish the baseline data this month.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total amount of (a) public sector subsidy is and (b) new loan guarantees are for the rail industry in 2005–06; and what his Department's planned financial support is for each category in each of the next two years.

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House of 10 February 2005 sets out how the Department intends to allocate money on railways up to April 2009.
	There are no new loan guarantees for the rail industry in 2005–06. However, Network Rail's borrowing facilities are fully backed by credit support arrangements provided by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections he has made of the growth in rail capacity to 2025.

Derek Twigg: Rail capacity is a measure of the ability of the network to accommodate passenger and freight demand. The UK network is an intensive mixed traffic railway and its capacity depends on the mix of the type, speed, length, routeing and stopping patterns of passenger and freight trains. The Department is working with Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to determine the forecast demand for passenger and freight.
	The Government will specify the passenger capacity outputs it seeks from the rail network for Control Period 4 (which runs from April 2009 to March 2014) in the High Level Output Specification. Future High Level Output Specifications at five-yearly intervals will similarly specify the two successive Control Periods to 2025.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the decision on the direct train link between Bexhill-on-Sea and London Victoria.

Derek Twigg: The Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy was published on 2 February 2006. This strategy recommends truncation of the London Victoria-Hastings service to terminate at Eastbourne. Some through services from Bexhill to/from Victoria will be retained at peak times. The Department for Transport will now undertake further work in respect of the recommendations and will develop an implementation plan in due course.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to cut train services between Bexhill-on-Sea and Pevensey and Westham during the next 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy was published on 2 February 2006. Train services on the route between Hastings and Eastbourne are being reviewed in light of the recommendations contained in the strategy.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the major (a) rail and (b) light rail infrastructure projects initiated by the Government and completed since 1997.

Derek Twigg: Major rail infrastructure projects initiated by the Government and completed since 1997 are as follows:
	Southern Region New Trains Programme (SRNTP) including the Power Supply Upgrade
	Cross Country Route Modernisation
	Evergreen 1—Track doubling between Princes Risborough, Bicester and Aynho
	The following schemes have been completed since 1997:
	Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Section 1—Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction
	Jubilee Line Extension (Underground)
	The following schemes have been initiated by the Government since 1997, still under way and to be completed:
	West Coast Route Modernisation
	Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Section 2—Southfleet Junction to St. Pancras via Ebbsfleet and Stratford
	CRTL Temple Mills Depot
	CTRL Domestic Services
	Thameslink 2000
	East London Line (ELL) Extension
	Kings Cross Network Rail Western Concourse
	Kings Cross London Underground (LUL) Works
	Access for All (Disability Discrimination Act)
	Evergreen 2—Bicester North to Marylebone Station Improvements
	Light rail schemes are initiated by local transport authorities. I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1660W and 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1795W, which list the light rail schemes completed and opened since 1997 and those where construction has commenced since 1997.

Road Pricing Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect on congestion of (a) a national road pricing scheme and (b) road pricing schemes in local authority areas;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of (a) a national road pricing scheme and (b) road pricing schemes in local authority areas on car use;
	(3)  whether his Department has made an estimate of how much travel on (a) rural roads, (b) urban roads and (c) motorways would cost per mile under a national road pricing scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK", published by the Department for Transport in July 2004, showed that road pricing could potentially reduce congestion by some 40 per cent. with benefits of up to £12 billion a year in time savings and increased reliability. The study modelled a wide range of theoretical schemes and charges including variants of national road pricing and of charging in local authority areas. A copy of the study report was placed in the Library, and is also available on the Department's website.

Road Pricing Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the (a) availability, (b) cost and (c) viability of technology to support (i) a national road pricing scheme and (ii) road pricing schemes in local authority areas.

Stephen Ladyman: The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK", published by the Department for Transport in July 2004, (a copy of which is in the House Library), concluded that the equipment necessary to deliver a full position-based charging scheme would probably not be available in a mass-market, low-cost form, until 2014. The Department is continuing to explore how the market might develop over the coming years and what synergies and opportunities this could offer in terms of road pricing.
	Technologies which could support local or regional schemes, such as microwave tags and automatic number plate recognition, are well proven and are already used both in the UK and internationally. The costs of technology for local schemes will depend on the individual area and would need to be evaluated as part of the development of the business case for the scheme.

Speed Cameras

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are installed, broken down by police authority area.

Stephen Ladyman: Information held on the number of speed camera sites, broken down by partnership area, within the safety camera programme as at 31 December 2005 is shown in the table. This information is provided to the Department by the safety camera partnerships.
	
		
			 Partnership area Number of speed camera sites 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 147 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 80 
			 Cambridgeshire 92 
			 Cheshire 42 
			 Cleveland 56 
			 Cumbria 40 
			 Derbyshire 127 
			 Devon and Cornwall 56 
			 Dorset 101 
			 Essex 162 
			 Gloucestershire 74 
			 Greater Manchester 154 
			 Hampshire 120 
			 Hertfordshire 31 
			 Humberside 126 
			 Kent and Medway 96 
			 Lancashire 280 
			 Leicestershire 91 
			 Lincolnshire 72 
			 London 320 
			 Merseyside 46 
			 Mid and South Wales 377 
			 Norfolk 89 
			 North Wales 70 
			 Northamptonshire 77 
			 Northumbria 99 
			 Nottinghamshire 58 
			 Staffordshire 98 
			 South Yorkshire 118 
			 Suffolk 48 
			 Surrey 42 
			 Sussex 86 
			 Thames Valley 344 
			 Warwickshire 57 
			 West Mercia 58 
			 West Midlands 128 
			 West Yorkshire 166 
			 Wiltshire 85

Traffic Management Act

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an assessment of the effects of the Traffic Management Act 2004 on traffic congestion on motorways following an accident; if he will publish each assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Traffic Management Act (004) enabled the Highways Agency to establish a Traffic Officer Service on motorways and on a limited number of all purpose trunk roads in England. The congestion reduction benefits derived from the introduction of the traffic officer service are not due to be assessed until 2008 when the service will have been fully operational for 12 months. I would expect the assessment, which will cover the impacts of introducing the traffic officer service on reducing incident related congestion; improving safety; improving the accuracy of information on variable message signs and freeing up police resources for tackling criminality, to be published after this time when the data have been gathered and analysed.

Transport Innovation Fund

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections his Department has made of how much money will be raised through road user charging under the Transport Innovation Fund until 2015; and whether the proceeds will go to (a) HM Treasury, (b) the Department for Transport and (c) local authorities.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has made no projections of how much money will be raised from local road user charging schemes. The Transport Act 2000 sets out the current arrangements for proceeds from local road user charging schemes.

Transport Staff (Alcohol/Drug Tests)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) commercial and (b) recreational mariners have been tested for (i) drugs and (ii) alcohol since 2001; and what proportion have been found to be above the legal limit.

Stephen Ladyman: Responsibility for testing professional mariners under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 for the effects of drugs and alcohol rests with the relevant local police force. These statistics are not collated nationally.
	Under existing legislation recreational mariners are not required to take such tests. The Department carried out a public consultation in 2004 entitled 'Alcohol Limits for Non-Professional Mariners' on whether the Railways and Transport Safety legislation should be extended to include recreational mariners. The results of this exercise are currently being reviewed, together with other supporting evidence.

Urban Road Network

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the urban road network is covered by the 10 largest urban areas.

Stephen Ladyman: The latest available figures relate to 2004 when the length of the urban road network in England was 121,455 km, of which 41.7 per cent. was covered by the 10 largest urban areas. Road lengths, by road class, for individual local highway authority areas are available on the Department for Transport website.

Wheelchairs/Mobility Scooters

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the conspicuity of wheelchairs and mobility scooters; and what discussions he has had with the manufacturers of wheelchairs and mobility scooters on this subject.

Karen Buck: We have no plans to improve the conspicuity of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Class 2 and Class 3 invalid carriages, when used on the carriageway, must already comply with the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

Workplace Parking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether it is his policy to introduce (a) charges and (b) other forms of levy on the provision of workplace parking;
	(2)  whether he has had discussions with the Treasury about the introduction of (a) charging and (b) taxation of workplace parking places;
	(3)  what his policy is on the provision of workplace parking.

Stephen Ladyman: It is for employers to decide what parking provision they make available to employees. However, in our published guidance on workplace travel plans, we explain how effective travel plans can help employers manage the cost and demand for parking spaces.
	Local highway authorities in England and Wales already have discretionary powers under the Transport Act 2000 to introduce Workplace Parking Levy schemes. For a scheme to come into force an order has to be approved by the appropriate national authority, which is the Secretary of State for Transport in England.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport discusses a wide range of matters with Ministers at HM Treasury.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Public Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Leader of the House how much was spent on public relations and information services by his Office in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Geoff Hoon: Information services to the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons are provided by the Communication Group of the Cabinet Office, which bears the cost.
	No money has been spent on public relations by the Office in the last five years.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2012 Business Summit

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which companies and representatives from (a) Wales and (b) Blaenau Gwent were invited to participate in the 2012 Business Summit on 24 January held in Canary Wharf.

Tessa Jowell: Both the Chairman and the Chief Executive of the Welsh Development Agency were invited to attend the 2012 Business Summit; unfortunately neither was able to attend, but they sent a representative of Trade and Invest Wales in their place. Plans are being developed for future similar events, including a conference to be held in Leeds in July, which will focus on how best to spread the benefits of the 2012 Games throughout the UK.

Licensing Act

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) evidence she considered and (b) account she took of existing legislation when deciding to license (i) live music in bars and restaurants, (ii) Punch and Judy shows and (iii) circuses under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: With regard to (a) , the Government considered the responses to a consultation on public entertainment licensing conducted in 1996 and the findings of a review of licensing law conducted with stakeholders between 1998 and 1999. The outcome of the Government's consideration of the evidence was reported in the White Paper Time for Reform: the Modernisation of our Licensing Laws" (Cm 4696). The Government subsequently considered about 1200 responses to the White Paper and the views of relevant stakeholders, including the Arts Council for England, the Musicians' Union, Equity, the Independent Street Arts Network and the Circus Arts Forum. With regard to (b) , the Government examined the operation of the Licensing Act 1964, particularly section 182, Schedule 12 of the London Government Act 1963, the Private Places of Entertainment Act 1967, the Theatres Act 1968 and Schedule 1 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
	The evidence showed that live music in bars and restaurants was generally licensable under the 1963 and 1982 Acts, save for the narrow exemption under section 182 of the 1964 Act applying to live music performed by not more than two people throughout the day on premises licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. Punch and Judy shows were licensable under the Theatres Act 1968, but in practice this law was rarely, if ever, enforced. The position of circuses was unclear under the 1963, 1982 and 1968 Acts because of anachronistic exemptions in the 1982 Act which related to entertainments at pleasure fairs and the lack of any obvious exemptions under the 1963 and 1968 Acts. However, in practice circuses were not being licensed, though some were being controlled by local authorities through the unsatisfactory use of public health legislation.

Lottery Funding (Scotland)

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Lottery funding has been provided (a) in Scotland and (b) in each Scottish constituency in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The information is as follows.
	(a) Lottery funding awarded by all of the lottery distributing bodies across Scotland:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001 144,560,712 
			 2002 119,559,887 
			 2003 201,559,954 
			 2004 112,250,167 
			 2005 146,991,931 
		
	
	(b) Lottery funding awarded by all of the lottery distributing bodies in each Scottish constituency:
	
		
			  £ 
			 UK constituency 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Aberdeen North 6,398,869 2,311,842 7,990,362 2,711,391 1,073,633 
			 Aberdeen South 601,030 219,233 457,909 629,704 1,703,833 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 572,497 783,629 1,464,455 1,819,587 514,262 
			 Angus 2,131,873 844,852 1,934,576 1,255,912 605,829 
			 Argyll and Bute 4,429,623 3,122,271 8,524,806 2,937,646 4,271,811 
			 Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock 2,150,725 1,292,438 3,113,358 2,737,009 1,342,728 
			 Banff and Buchan 407,052 857,545 1,898,784 1,467,642 468,590 
			 Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk 4,558,101 3,037,261 4,683,952 2,428,412 1,431,177 
			 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 2,715,926 1,422,666 1,399,713 775,677 1,945,037 
			 Central Ayrshire 939,598 1,738,645 1,443,844 1,500,943 504,299 
			 Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill 1,387,837 875,271 3,517,120 807,469 5,861,889 
			 Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East 209,850 1,418,415 2,982,212 2,999,291 714,075 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 1,763,141 2,553,280 2,279,253 2,413,623 4,390,321 
			 Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale 2,793,322 2,015,877 2,615,310 680,001 510,263 
			 Dundee East 1,347,461 832,229 473,375 827,330 1,461,463 
			 Dundee West 2,706,525 3,216,798 7,731,997 7,111,653 1,739,333 
			 Dunfermline and West Fife 1,042,970 433,962 365,397 3,642,608 467,174 
			 East Dunbartonshire 1,929,765 1,408,274 820,528 617,567 448,001 
			 East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow 921,591 1,280,658 424,763 596,347 542,249 
			 East Lothian 2,504,820 686,849 2,433,675 1,570,295 689,417 
			 East Renfrewshire 1,969,711 1,487,532 1,585,949 1,547,484 530,161 
			 Edinburgh East 13,818,812 3,455,701 15,419,953 5,027,220 41,201,909 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 6,554,139 7,598,959 14,486,618 3,177,634 5,803,822 
			 Edinburgh South 1,074,716 1,184,591 711,991 3,017,499 1,182,158 
			 Edinburgh South West 1,777,940 1,958,586 4,337,269 354,073 454,721 
			 Edinburgh West 1,167,811 269,128 1,033,207 1,702,126 906,992 
			 Falkirk 716,311 1,061,252 1,536,148 299,005 1,298,877 
			 Glasgow Central 14,194,529 13,459,204 24,776,252 8,080,159 21,735,074 
			 Glasgow East 1,467,135 446,419 934,405 1,130,207 1,220,648 
			 Glasgow North 2,216,414 3,078,330 6,306,435 3,277,948 3,792,294 
			 Glasgow North East 360,636 560,868 2,638,817 1,766,411 862,227 
			 Glasgow North West 2,935,439 326,609 950,546 1,506,719 168,435 
			 Glasgow South 1,438,113 1,371,780 1,478,397 2,697,515 2,966,165 
			 Glasgow South West 2,084,437 126,412 971,709 1,261,404 1,266,312 
			 Glenrothes 1,723,819 1,214,203 4,059,071 375,456 1,557,452 
			 Gordon 1,232,196 1,015,793 1,558,004 991,978 673,039 
			 Inverclyde 2,338,073 3,034,850 1,526,513 1,758,914 789,531 
			 Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey 5,053,256 3,039,533 5,186,174 3,635,730 2,640,375 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 1,854,903 717,726 2,639,309 829,489 1,305,478 
			 Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath 1,462,355 1,465,313 4,292,996 1,872,372 575,204 
			 Lanark and Hamilton East 1,563,836 3,104,378 4,218,507 1,982,258 1,672,516 
			 Linlithgow and East Falkirk 1,764,498 3,141,181 5,090,395 737,967 454,395 
			 Livingston 338,811 1,360,578 2,461,900 1,434,710 1,073,703 
			 Midlothian 1,590,418 2,696,104 2,125,144 2,543344 2,149,982 
			 Moray 2,288,763 1,121,254 1,272,033 1,655,520 811,160 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 652,219 1,075,979 622,697 1,687,138 1,747,877 
			 Na h-Eileanan an Iar 1,008,149 5,169,902 3,430,980 3,149,371 895,401 
			 North Ayrshire and Arran 4,281,117 4,143,729 1,479,909 924301 1,182,297 
			 North East Fife 2,781,645 958,945 1,460,715 638,469 307,768 
			 Ochil and South Perthshire 2,931,586 127,448 1,280,524 453,893 1,212,981 
			 Orkney and Shetland 2,841,405 4,467,791 3,036,032 1,373,932 2,009,453 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire North 2,291,349 1,103,553 1,919,707 506,689 991,195 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire South 2,543,660 1,405,297 3,222,817 862,099 1,688,460 
			 Perth and North Perthshire 1,640,794 1,152,444 3,390,324 3,233,256 347,456 
			 Ross, Skye and Lochaber 1,997,718 5,622,565 3,474,868 2,052,186 2,741,779 
			 Rutherglen and Hamilton West 1,000,152 2,144,984 2,871,790 482,547 1,188,197 
			 Stirling 1,517,145 1,159,783 3,619,547 2,424,912 3,763,935 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 837,694 851,775 1,333,893 281,276 307,644 
			 West Dunbartonshire 3,734,431 1,525,411 2,261,017 1,984,845 827,469 
			 Total for Scotland 144,560,712 119,559,887 201,559,954 112,250,167 146,991,931 
		
	
	This information is derived from the Department's Lottery awards database, searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the lottery distributors.

Opinion Research/Public Relations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value was of (a) public opinion research and (b) public relations contracts awarded by her Department in 2004–05 in (i) each (A) nation and (B) region of the UK and (ii) London.

David Lammy: (a) The Department commissioned two pieces of research containing a component of public opinion research:
	1. A survey of participation and attendance across DCMS sectors, 'Taking Part', was commissioned in 2005. In addition to asking about respondent's participation in areas of DCMS responsibility, there are a small number of questions on the survey which can be classified as relating to public opinion. On average, the survey takes 40 minutes to complete, and we estimate that one and a half minutes of this is taken up by public opinion questions.
	The total cost of the survey is £2.5 million, but only a small proportion of this relates to public opinion research.
	2. A survey of live music provision was commissioned in June 2004. Although primarily focussed on collecting information from venue operators about the extent of live music provision in their establishment, it contained a number of questions about changes to the licensing regime, their awareness of this and their perceptions of the impact it would have upon them.
	The total cost of the survey was £127,252.
	(b) The spend on public relations contracts in 2004–05 was £100,000.
	The campaign proved to be excellent value for money as it enabled us to access over 236,000 (advertising value equivalent—AVE) of space in high profile consumer publications on a targeted national and regional scale for zero cost.
	It is not possible to give the value by nation, region of UK and London as the contract was not specified in this way and we could provide this information only at disproportionate cost.

Regulatory Reform Orders

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many regulatory reform orders her Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

David Lammy: The Department has laid five Regulatory Reform Orders before Parliament in the last five calendar years. The details are listed as follows.
	
		
			 SI number SI title 
		
		
			 2001/3937 The Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2001 
			 2002/1602 The Regulatory Reform (Golden Jubilee Licensing) Order 2002 
			 2002/3205 The Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2002 
			 2003/3275 The Regulatory Reform (Gaming Machines) Order 2003 
			 2004/1939 The Regulatory Reform (Museum of London) (Location of Premises) Order 2004

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the statutory instruments introduced by her Department since 6 May 2005.

David Lammy: A list of statutory instruments introduced by this Department since 6 May 2005 is set out in the following table.
	
		Statutory Instruments
		
			 Number Title 
		
		
			 2005/1464 The European Convention on Cinematographic Co- production (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2005. 
			 2005/1519 The Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (Commencement of Variations) Order 2005. 
			 2005/1522 The Royal Parks (Regulation of Specified Parks) Order 2005. 
			 2005/1748 The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2005. 
			 2005/1751 The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2005. 
			 2005/1830 The Olympic Lotteries (Declaration that London is to host the 2012 Olympic Games) Order 2005. 
			 2005/1831 (C.78) The Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 (Commencement No.3) Order 2005 
			 2005/1974 The Protection of Wrecks(Designation) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005/2090 (C91) The Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No.6) Act 2005 
			 2005/2091 The Licensing Act 2003 (Second appointed day) Order 2005 
			 2005/2366 The Licensing Act 2003 (Personal licence: relevant offences) (Amendment) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2470 The Millennium Commission (Reduction in Membership) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2425 (C101) The Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No.1) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2455 (C103) The Gambling Act (Commencement No.2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2632 (C.108) The Human Tissue Act 2004 (Commencement No.2) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2775 The Gaming Machines (Maximum Prizes) Regulations 2005. 
			 2005/2776 The Gaming Act 1968 (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2868 The Royal Parks (Establishment of Eligibility for Transfer and Termination of Employment) Regulations 2005. 
			 2005/3235 The New Opportunities Fund (Specification of Initiatives) (No.2) Order 2005. 
			 2005/2918 The Licensing Act 2003 (Permitted Temporary Activities) (Notices) Regulations 2005. 
			 2005/3027 The Licensing Act 2003 ( (Amendment of the Gaming Act 1968) (transfer of Gaming Machine Permits) Order 2005 
			 2005/3028 The Licensing Act 2003 ( Amendment of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976) (Transfer of Amusements With Prizes Permits) Order 2005. 
			 2005/3048 The Licensing Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2005. 
			 2005/3056 (C131) The Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No. 7 and Transitional Provisions ) Order 2005. 
			 2005/3274 The Parks for People (England) Joint Scheme (Authorisation) Order 2005. 
			 2005/3351 The Public Lending Right Scheme 1982) (Commencement of Variation) (No.2) Order 2005. 
			 2005/3439 (C.144) The Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 (Commencement No.3) Order 2005. 
			 2006/218 The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2005

World Rowing Championships

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will be attending the world rowing championships at Dorney Lake in August.

Richard Caborn: To date I have not received an invitation to attend this event. Should I do so, my decision to be present will be determined by my diary commitments.

World Rowing Championships

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is providing to the world rowing championships that are to take place in the UK in August; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: These championships have received significant financial support from a number of sources. In May 2002, UK Sport made an award of up to £1.15 million of lottery funding towards the bidding and staging costs. In addition, funding has been provided to contribute to completion of the construction of the Dorney Lake Start and Finish Towers to bring it up to the required international and Olympic standard. At the beginning of 2005, Sport England granted £250,000 of lottery funding to the Amateur Rowing Association; UK Sport contributed £112,000 exchequer funding and the London Development Agency and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport provided combined exchequer funding of £88,000.

Worship Grant Scheme

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme has cost in each year since 2001.

David Lammy: The Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme returns to faith groups the equivalent of the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed places of worship. The cost per year of the scheme is represented in the table.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Grants disbursed 1,193,237.39 8,049,941.63 9,006,413.95 10,444,277.82 
			 Administration costs 50,549.20 205,526.00 215,072.74 230,747.57 
			 Total 1,243,786.59 8,255,467.63 9,221,486.69 10,675,025.39

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Accounts Modernisation Directive

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he expects to be the financial implications for business of not proceeding with the operating financial review and introducing the business review under the accounts modernisation directive.

Alun Michael: Based on the Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanied the Companies Act 1985 (Operating and Financial Review and Directors' Report etc), Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1011), removing the statutory requirement for quoted companies to produce an operation financial review, thus removing duplication so that quoted companies are required only to produce a business review, should reduce the burden on business by an estimated £33 million per annum, primarily by reducing audit compliance costs.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the proposed restructuring of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the potential loss of UK scientific research capacity; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The Department has received a number of letters from Members of Parliament, trade unions, environmental organisations, members of the public and others, about the Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) proposal to restructure the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. NERC is being made aware of the views expressed.

Clean Coal Technology

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent steps he has taken to promote (a) clean coal technology and (b) carbon sequestration.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The Government announced £25 million for the demonstration of Carbon Abatement Technologies as part of the Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy for Fossil Fuel Use", published in June 2005. CATs include Clean Coal Technology and Carbon Capture and Storage. The Chancellor announced a further £10 million for demonstration in his pre-Budget Statement in November 2005, bringing the total Government support for demonstration to £35 million. The money will be available from April 2006 for 4 years. We expect to receive proposals from industry for projects in late spring 2006.
	In addition to this, CAT projects have been included as part of the November 2005 call for R&D proposals under the DTI's Technology Programme supporting collaborative R&D. Around £13 million is being made available for energy based technologies with some of this being allocated to the successful CAT projects.

Clear Skies Grants

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Clear Skies grants madetoprojects in Dorset since the scheme was introduced.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 30 January 2006
	Since the start of the Clear Skies programme, grant support has been approved for 195 household projects in Dorset, 136 of which have completed and received grant funding. In terms of community projects, four have been approved for grant funding, of which one has completed and received funding, two are yet to complete and one has withdrawn. A list of community projects supported under Clear Skies can be accessed at http://www.clear-skies.org/communities/ApplicationGuidelines.aspx There is not a publicly available list for household projects.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to ensure that there will be (a) a race committee and (b) black and minority ethnic commissioners on the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Meg Munn: At Report Stage of the Equality Bill on 16 January we made a clear commitment to urgently progress work to identify how race equality work will be undertaken in the new Commission. This work will also seek to establish how the new Commission's work in these areas will fit within the Government's wider framework of activity on community cohesion, race equality and relations with faith communities, and will be undertaken jointly with the Home Office, to ensure coherent and effective delivery that meets the needs and of all our black and minority ethnic communities.
	We also made clear our confidence that the provisions in the Bill, requiring appointments to the Commission to be made on the basis of knowledge or experience in the specific areas of discrimination, will ensure that the Commission is a diverse and reflects the full breadth of the communities and interests with whom it will work, including black and minority ethnic communities.
	We welcome the opportunity to engage further with the BME communities on this important agenda and, further to these commitments, I have agreed to meet with 1990 Trust, Operation Black Vote, the CRE and the Greater London authority. This meeting will take place shortly.

Correspondence

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter of 25 July 2005 from the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire in relation to driving offences committed by foreign hauliers; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: This case was transferred to the Department of Transport, who I understand have replied to the hon. Member.

Correspondence

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Minister for Employment Relations will reply to the letter of October 2005 from the hon. Member for Burnley regarding a constituent Mr. Morrison.

Alan Johnson: The matter raised by my hon. Friend's constituent is not a matter for this Department and has been transferred to the FCO. I apologise that there was a delay in doing so, due to an administrative error.

Correspondence

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter dated 3 November 2005 from Mr. John Waterman, a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 February 2006
	I am awaiting technical information to enable me to provide a comprehensive answer to the concerns of my hon. Friend's constituent. I hope to have that information within the next week and apologise for the delay.

Energy from Waste Plants

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why energy from waste plants accepting mixed waste will not be eligible for renewable obligation certificates.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government made clear in the statutory consultation document on the 2005–06 review of the renewables obligation that the majority of new energy from waste projects should not need the support of the obligation to be economic. For this reason the Government does not propose to introduce an amendment to eligibility, which would allow the majority of new projects using conventional technologies to claim renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) from mixed waste.
	The statutory consultation document also made clear that whilst the majority of new energy from mixed waste plants, utilising conventional combustion technology, should be economic without the support of the obligation, energy from mixed waste plants, which utilise combined heat and power (CHP), would be likely to face additional capital costs in relation to the supply of heat. Given the carbon abatement benefits arising from the use, rather than the waste of heat from the combustion process, the Government proposes to extend ROC eligibility to electricity generated from the biomass fraction of mixed waste, which uses CHP. This change will take effect from 1 April 2006.
	Energy from mixed waste, using advanced conversion technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion, remains eligible for support under the renewables obligation.
	A copy of the statutory consultation document on the 2005–06 review of the renewables obligation is available from the Libraries of the House.

Mobile Telephones (Charges)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken by his Department to prosecute companies who charge people for a service they did not want on their mobile telephone.

Alun Michael: The Government's aim is have in place controls which give the consumer sufficient safeguards but which do not unduly hamper the development of the market. Unsolicited text (SMS) messages are illegal under new statutory controls, which were introduced as part of the new Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) is responsible for administering Premium Rate Services (PRS) and can fine companies and bar access to services.
	As a result of various PRS scams during 2004, the Government asked the communications and media regulator, Ofcom to carry out a review of PRS regulation. In December 2004 Ofcom published a report, which contained a set of recommendations to reduce the scope for consumer harm. Most of Ofcom's recommendations have already been implemented to improve the PRS regulatory regime, including raising the maximum penalty for breaches of the ICSTIS Code of Practice from £100,000 to £250,000.
	The recommendations focus on:
	Enforcement—tightening up the regulatory regime to give the regulator, ICSTIS, more powers to act more quickly against those abusing the PRS payment mechanism.
	Consumer redress—improving the likelihood of consumers being able to get their money back where they are the subject of a PRS fraud.
	Consumer information—informing consumers better about how to avoid being the victim of PRS fraud.
	One key recommendation that has already been implemented is to slow down the flow of funds from network operators to service providers, by making operators withhold payment for 30 days from when a PRS call is made. New rules on compensation for consumers who have been subject to a scam are also being implemented. Then, if there are complaints, it will be possible to hold back funds for a longer period, thus ensuring that fines and repayments can be paid. This will reduce the likelihood of a quick gain being made through the provision of unwanted or unacceptable practices. The new requirement will allow ICSTIS to have suspect services cut off at an earlier stage using its emergency procedure and prevent service providers from being paid for fraudulent services. The commencement date for this new requirement was 15 September 2005.
	The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) is an independent body set up by the advertising industry to police the rules laid down in the advertising codes. ASA receives and upholds many complaints from parents whose children have received large phone bills because they downloaded ringtones without realising the financial commitment involved.
	The industry itself announced in January 2005 that consumers must be clearly informed by text about what they have subscribed to, the cost, and how to stop the service (a consumer must" be able to switch off the service with the universal stop" command). All the UK mobile operators have signed up to these new safeguards and agreed to require those content providers using their networks to comply with them. In other words all content providers have to comply with the new safeguards or will face the suspension of their services (and therefore the blocking and loss of revenue).

National Minimum Wage

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies have been found not to be paying their employees the national minimum wage in each year since 2001; and what penalties were imposed.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	HM Revenue and Customs do not routinely reveal the identity of the employers found not to be paying the minimum wage.

North Sea Gas

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why natural gas from UK offshore North Sea sources has been depleted at a faster rate than was envisaged in the 2003 Energy White Paper; and if he will place his Department's calculations in the Library.

Malcolm Wicks: The 2003 Energy White Paper did not specifically forecast the rate of depletion of UK gas but it did say that it is...likely that the UK will become a net importer of gas on an annual basis by around 2006" (paragraph 6.13). This was in line with the projections of outside analysts. For example, Wood Mackenzie, in its August 2001 multi-client report entitled Running Short of Gas: The Outlook for UK and Irish Gas Markets", had said It is probable that the UK will become a net importer of gas in either 2005 or 2006." The following table compares the Department's central view of both production and demand at the time of the Energy White Paper with its current central view. This shows that our own gas production from the North Sea declined faster than expected in 2004, with declining production from existing fields not being offset by production from new, smaller fields, and we moved to being a small net gas importer.
	
		
			 bcm 
			  Energy White Paper projected Net UKCS gas production Current actual(1)/projected net UKCS gas production Energy White Paper projected net UK gas demand Current actual(1)/projected net UK gas demand 
		
		
			 2001 105 (1)104 95 (1)95 
			 2002 102 (1)102 96 (1)93 
			 2003 102 (1)102 96 (1)94 
			 2004 102 (1)95 96 (1)96 
			 2005 99 89 97 94 
			 2006 94 90 97 94 
			 2007 83 86 98 94 
			 2008 72 80 98 95 
		
	
	(1) Actual.

Nuclear Fuels

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tonnes of nuclear fuel were imported into the UK in the latest year for which records are available, broken down by country of export.

Malcolm Wicks: Spent nuclear fuel is imported into the UK for reprocessing services. The precise details of deliveries from individual customers are commercially confidential. I can, however, confirm there have been no such imports in the financial year 2005–06.

Nuclear Fuels

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what nuclear fuels have been consumed in the UK in each of the last three years; and how many tonnes of each type of fuel were consumed in each of those years.

Malcolm Wicks: British Nuclear Fuel and British Energy have informed me that their generating reactors have used the following volumes of Uranium over the last three-year period for which figures are available:
	
		BNFL
		
			  Tonnes uranium 
		
		
			 2003 423.557 
			 2004 354.489 
			 2005 408.260 
		
	
	
		British Energy
		
			  Tonne uranium 
		
		
			 2002 267 
			 2003 269 
			 2004 212

Nuisance Text Messages

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints Ofcom has received regarding nuisance text messages sent by companies in the last 12 months.

Alun Michael: Under Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, which came into force on 11 December 2003, the Information Commissioner's Office and not Ofcom has responsibility for the consideration of complaints relating to unsolicited marketing text messages. I am advised by his office that the following complaints were received in relation to Regulation 22, which covers unsolicited marketing text messages going back to the introduction of the present casework management system in 2004, although due to the nature of the casework management system previously used by his office figures are not available before this date:
	
		
			  Number of complaints 
		
		
			 2004 931 
			 2005 479 
			 2006 (2)16 
		
	
	(2) To date.

Palm Oil

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that UK power stations will not earn renewable obligation certificates by using palm oil as part of its fuel mix.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Under the Renewables Obligation (RO) palm oil, as a biomass fuel, is eligible for renewable obligation certificates (ROCs). All biomass fuels are eligible for ROCs and the Government have no plans to amend this position at the present time.

Petroleum Imports

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total volume of oil and petroleum imports into the UK during the last year for which figures are available; and what were the countries of origin of the imports.

Malcolm Wicks: The table shows imports into the UK of primary oil and petroleum products by country of origin for 2004.
	Total imports of primary oil into the UK in 2004 were 62 and a half million tonnes, with Norway accounting for about two thirds (64 per cent.) of primary oil imports. Total imports of petroleum products into the UK in 2004 were 19 and a half million tonnes, with two countries (Saudi Arabia and Russia) accounting for 22 per cent. of product imports.
	
		Imports of oil and petroleum products into the UK in 2004, by country.
		
			 Thousand tonnes 
			 Country of Origin Total primary oil Percentage of total oil imports Total petroleum products Percentage of total product imports Total imports Percentage of total imports 
		
		
			 France 818 1 1,201 6 2,019 2 
			 Kuwait (3)— (3)— 1,731 9 1,731 2 
			 Latvia 450 1 890 5 1,340 2 
			 Netherlands 329 1 1,055 5 1,384 2 
			 Norway 39,884 64 1,440 7 41,324 50 
			 Russia 9,199 15 2,116 11 11,315 14 
			 Saudi Arabia 1,357 2 2,077 11 3,435 4 
			 United Arab Emirates (4)— (4)— 1,773 9 1,773 2 
			 Other 10,479 17 7,201 37 17,680 22 
			 Total Imports 62,516 100 19,485 100 82,001 100 
		
	
	(3) Indicates zero imports.
	(4) Value less than one thousand tonnes.
	Source:
	Digest of UK energy statistics 2005 and company data.

Regulatory Reform

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulatory reform orders his Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

Alan Johnson: My Department has laid five regulatory reform orders (which have subsequently been made) in the last five calendar years. These are listed as follows:
	The Regulatory Reform (Removal of 20 Member Limit in Partnerships etc.) Order 2020
	The Regulatory Reform (Sunday Trading) Order 2004
	The Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004
	The Regulatory Reform (Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971) (Directory Entries and Demands for Payment) Order 2005
	The Regulatory Reform (Trading Stamps) Order 2005

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his renewable heat strategy.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer to the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 36W.
	The Government Biomass Group considering the recommendations of the Biomass Task Force will be reporting in April.

Social Enterprises

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the development of social enterprises.

Alun Michael: The Government published a strategy for social enterprise in 2002. Since then we have provided funding to help establish the Social Enterprise Coalition as a representative body for social enterprises, and carried out a major survey to determine the size of the sector. We have introduced the Community Interest Company" to provide businesses operating primarily for a social purpose a tailor-made limited company model, and we are working with the regional development agencies to ensure that social enterprises are well-served by publicly funded business support available through Business Link.
	We have produced a guide for banks entitled Lending to the Social Enterprise sector" and sponsored the excellent Matchwinners" publication which exemplifies commercial collaboration between social enterprises and the private sector.
	We are currently refreshing the strategy for social enterprise, and will launch a new action plan in the spring. The action plan will focus on four key areas:
	confirming the value of social enterprise
	embedding social enterprise as a recognised business model
	opening markets to social enterprise, and
	encouraging new entrants to the sector.
	Actions will include ensuring social enterprises are well served by publicly funded business support, improving access to public procurement, new research into the impact of social enterprise, and promoting social enterprise to potential entrepreneurs.

Supermarkets

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to review the Supermarket Code of Practice; and whether he plans to give advice to the Office of Fair Trading in respect of establishing a regulator to monitor breaches of the Code of Conduct by supermarkets.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The prime responsibility for operating our competition regime rests with the independent competition authorities. In the specific case of supermarkets it is the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The OFT is currently responsible for keeping under review the Code of Practice governing supermarket's relations with their suppliers and for dealing with any other competition issues in the sector.
	Complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code of Practice will be investigated by the OFT who will take appropriate action where necessary.

THORP

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2355W, on THORP, whether ministerial approval is required in the event that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the British Nuclear Group agree the plant should restart.

Malcolm Wicks: The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) has been shut since a major leak in April 2005. Once the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is satisfied that its safety requirements are met, the decision as to when to re-start the operation of THORP would be for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to take, in conjunction with plant operator BNG.
	The NDA has been given a direction to operate THORP under the Energy Act 2004. A decision by the NDA to re-start the operation of THORP would therefore be in compliance with this direction. Further ministerial approval would not be required provided plans to re-start THORP are within the current operating plan for the plant.

DEFENCE

Administration Costs

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's administration costs limit was for financial year 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The Ministry of Defence is not subject to an administration cost limit.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength of the Afghan National Army is; what the expected rate is of annual increase in manpower; and what assessment his Department has made of what additional armaments will be required in order to meet the target of a fully functioning Army with a strength of 70,000 personnel by 2010.

Adam Ingram: Over 27,000 Afghan troops have been trained at the Kabul Military Training Centre, and the Afghan Minister for Defence recently estimated there were now 34,000 soldiers, NCOs and officers in the Afghan National Army. The future growth of the Afghan National Army, and the equipment it may require, are a matter for the Government of Afghanistan and the United States, as the G8 Lead Nation responsible for assisting the Afghans to rebuild their Army.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers of arrest and detention are available to British troops engaged in peacekeeping in Afghanistan.

John Reid: Troops deployed under international security assistance force (ISAF) are able to arrest and detain by virtue of the authorisations permitting use of all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate contained in, most recently, UNSCR 1623 (2005), and by agreement with the Government of Afghanistan. ISAF policy is that individuals should be transferred to the Afghan authorities at the first opportunity and within 96 hours or released.

Afghanistan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troop-carrying movements were made by air in Afghanistan in 2005 in aircraft which were not fitted with defensive aids systems; how many such movements are expected to be made in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: No UK military flights carrying troops in Afghanistan were flown without defensive aid suites in 2005 and we do not plan to move troops without such protection in the future.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under which command a detachment of six Harrier GR7 aircraft is operating in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The United Kingdom's six Harrier GR7 aircraft are commanded by the UK Air Component Commander. The aircraft routinely support the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the US-led Coalition Forces Command (Afghanistan), according to operational priorities. The GR7s operate under UK Rules of Engagement at all times.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Foreign Secretary and (b) Secretary of State for International Development regarding the linking of the military deployment with (i) political engagement and (ii) development efforts in Helmand Province, Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: I have regular discussions with the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development regarding the Government's plans to participate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Stage 3 expansion, and will continue to do so.
	Any UK deployment to Helmand is predicated upon a fully integrated military and civilian plan designed to improve security, build local Afghan capacity, address the problem of narcotics and improve development opportunities working closely with the Governor and his team. Planning has been co-ordinated across Government including these three Departments. The UK's preliminary operations team, which comprises military, FCO, DFID and PCRU members, continues to refine plans for UK activity in the province.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role UK forces will play in counter-narcotics activities in Helmand province, Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: Counter-narcotics (CN) operations are the responsibility of the Government of Afghanistan. The UK is the lead G8 nation for counter narcotics assistance in Afghanistan. UK forces deployed under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Helmand will contribute to the broader CN effort by providing the secure environment in which the rule of law can be applied, reconstruction can take place and legal rural livelihoods can be developed.
	Under NATO's operational plan for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, UK forces under ISAF provide, within means and capabilities, training and operational support to Afghan CN forces. They do not have a direct role in targeted interdiction operations or in eradication of opium poppy in the fields.

Apache Helicopter

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified pilots for the Apache AH Mk1 helicopter there were (a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in 1997.

Adam Ingram: As at January 2006 there were 100 qualified pilots, with a further 15 due to be fully trained in April 2006 following their successful completion of a conversion to type training course. There were no trained pilots in 1997 as the Ministry of Defence did not take delivery of the Apache Mk 1 until 15 March 2000.

Apache Helicopter

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the full complement is of (a) pilots and (b) engineers for the Apache helicopter fleet; and how many are in post in each category.

Adam Ingram: The establishment for Apache pilots is 217. As at January 2006, there are 100 trained Apache pilots, with a further 15 pilots due to be fully trained on Apache aircraft in April 2006, following their successful completion of the current conversion to type training course.
	The establishment for engineers for the Apache fleet is 539. There are currently 318 engineers in post. There are 15 Apache engineering courses programmed for 2006.
	The Army Air Corps is approximately halfway through the conversion programme to the Apache helicopter. The current establishment and ongoing training of pilots and engineers is in line with this conversion programme.

Armed Forces Deployment

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each of the three services he expects to be (a) serving abroad and (b) deployed on front-line duties between 24 December 2005 and 2 January 2006; and what percentage of the trained strength of each service each of these figures represents.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 December 2005
	The following table gives the numbers of personnel deployed on operations and the numbers serving overseas (but not on operations) at 14 December 2005. The figure did not rise significantly over the Christmas period, however staff taking leave may have caused both numbers to fall.
	The number of personnel categorised as serving overseas, but not on operations" remaining away from the United Kingdom over the Christmas period was likely to be significantly smaller, as personnel in Germany and Cyprus for example, may have chosen to take their leave back in the UK. Some personnel deployed on operations will have taken rest and recuperation (R+R) during this time and the figures do not reflect these temporary fluctuations.
	The percentage for trained strength is based on a total that includes regular forces and the regular and volunteer reserves. The figures do not include individuals liable for recall in a crisis, university or cadet forces.
	
		
			 Service Number deployed on operations Number serving overseas not on operations Total Percentage of trained strength 
		
		
			 Naval Service 1,320 120 1,440 1.5 
			 Army 8,213 22,786 30,999 9.2 
			 Royal Air Force 2,768 2,506 5,292 5.3

Departmental Estimates

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down the (a) main estimate, (b) winter supplementary estimate and (c) spring supplementary estimate Request for Resources 1 provision for each of his Department's top level budget holders by (i) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) and (ii) indirect resource DEL for financial years 1999–2000 to 2004–05.

John Reid: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down the Request for Resources 1 outturn for each of his Department's top level budget holders by (a) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) and (b) indirect resource DEL for financial years 1999–2000 to 2004–05.

John Reid: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Staff

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the distribution in each region and country of the UK of (a) regular service personnel, (b) direct civilian employees of his Department and (c) civilian personnel in the UK defence agencies and trading funds was at the latest date for which figures are available.

Don Touhig: For information on the distribution of service personnel, I refer my hon. Friend to Tri Service Publication 10, UK Regular Forces Distribution across the UK (TSP 10).
	Copies of TSP 10 are held in the House of Commons Library and also available at www.dasa.mod.uk
	The following tables shows the number of civilian personnel directly employed in the Department and UK Defence agencies and trading funds as at 1 January 2006 by Government office region.
	
		Civilian personnel(5) in UK Defence agencies and MOD—owned trading funds by Government office region and country, at 1 January 2006
		
			 Number: FTE 
			  North East North West Yorkshire and Humber East Midlands West Midlands Eastern London South East South West 
		
		
			 MOD Total excluding Agencies and Trading Funds 440 570 1,490 1,770 1,410 5,270 4,590 7,140 10,500 
			 Total Agencies and Trading Funds 90 2,240 2,380 760 4,640 1,990 2,500 9,620 13,240 
			 Agencies  
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency — — — — — — — 50 130 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency — 20 930 20 210 110 40 1,380 990 
			 British Forces Post Office — — — — 10 10 240 30 20 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency — — — — — — 70 10 120 
			 Defence Bills Agency — 540 — — — — — — — 
			 Defence Communications Service Agency — 20 50 10 90 520 310 500 1,820 
			 Defence Estates 10 50 130 50 490 350 200 460 380 
			 Defence Medical and Education Training Agency — — 10 — 30 10 100 420 10 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 20 160 10 10 50 60 80 110 3,190 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency — 260 40 10 1,590 40 — 1,180 380 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency — — — — — — 50 90 — 
			 Defence Vetting Agency — — 320 — — — — — — 
			 Disposal Services Agency — — — — — 20 60 — 10 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School — — — — — — — 120 — 
			 Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency 40 130 530 100 300 650 640 2,030 1,470 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency 10 10 — — 10 — 10 520 80 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency — 350 — — — — — — 500 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 10 30 190 460 620 30 20 450 140 
			 Service Children's Education — — — — — — — — — 
			 Veterans' Agency — 630 10 10 10 — 10 20 70 
			   
			 Trading Funds  
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(6) — — 130 — 970 140 — 100 790 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency — — — — — — — 810 — 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratories — — — 20 230 — 650 1,150 1,040 
			 Meteorological Office — 30 30 60 30 40 10 200 1,150 
			 UK Hydrographic Office — — — — — — — 10 950 
			   
			 Locally engaged civilian staff * * * * * * * * * 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff * * * * * * * * * 
			   
			 Civilian Level 0 Total * * * * * * * * * 
		
	
	
		
			   Number: FTE 
			  Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unknown Overseas Total 
		
		
			 MOD Total excluding Agencies and Trading Funds 760 3,740 2,980 750 1,060 42,470 
			 Total Agencies and Trading Funds 2,440 3,220 360 230 1,460 45,200 
			 Agencies   
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency — 30 — — — 210 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 140 60 10 — — 3,930 
			 British Forces Post Office — 10 — — — 310 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency — — — — — 200 
			 Defence Bills Agency — — — 10 — 550 
			 Defence Communications Service Agency 20 150 10 10 130 3,630 
			 Defence Estates 40 210 290 — 140 2,810 
			 Defence Medical and Education Training Agency — — — — — 590 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 10 110 10 20 120 3,960 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 210 680 — 10 10 4,410 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency — — — — — 150 
			 Defence Vetting Agency — — — — — 320 
			 Disposal Services Agency — — — — — 100 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School — — — — — 120 
			 Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency 190 1,330 — — — 7,420 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency 70 10 20 — — 750 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency — — — — — 860 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 100 50 — — — 2,110 
			 Service Children's Education — — — — 1,010 1,020 
			 Veterans' Agency 10 10 10 — — 790 
			
			 Trading Funds   
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(6) 20 170 — — — 2,310 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency 1,610 280 — 20 — 2,720 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratories — — — 150 — 3,230 
			 Meteorological Office 30 110 20 — 30 1,740 
			 UK Hydrographic Office — — — — — 960 
			
			 Locally engaged civilian staff * * * * * 16,150 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff * * * * * 2,350 
			
			 Civilian Level 0 Total * * * * * 106,150 
		
	
	— = Denotes less than 5.
	(5) This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk).
	(6) From the 1 January 2006 reporting, DASA has been able to identify a methodology to correctly identify all of the ABRO staff. Civilian Level 0 and overall figures by Government office region and country are unaffected by this change.
	Notes:
	1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10, as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	2. Figures include values for part-time staff proportionate to those of full-time staff.
	Source:
	DASA(Civilian).

Extraordinary Rendition

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) prisoners of war, (b) civilian internees and (c) civilian detainees captured by United Kingdom forces in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan and transferred to the United States as the accepting power have been removed to territories outside Iraq.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 January 2006
	We are unaware of any individuals originally detained by United Kingdom armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan and subsequently transferred by the United States to any country.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which army regiments have visited Gibraltar in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: The following regiments have visited Gibraltar in the last 12 months:
	104 Regiment (Royal Artillery)(Volunteers)
	20 Field Squadron, 36 Royal Engineer Regiment
	Royal Ghurkha Regiment
	503 Specialist Team Royal Engineers Fuel Infra
	East of England Regiment
	30 Signal Regiment; 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Volunteers)
	104 Logistic Support Regiment (Volunteers)
	Scottish Transport Regiment (Volunteers)
	35 Signal Regiment (Volunteers), Bowman Conversion Team
	Royal School of Military Engineering
	1st Battalion Welsh Guards
	47th Regiment Royal Artillery
	22 (Gibraltar) Battery, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery

HELEN Laser

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) revenue and (b) capital expenditure has been allocated to the HELEN laser at AWE Aldermaston in each of the last five years.

John Reid: The expenditure allocated to the HELEN laser in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			£ million 
			  Capital Revenue 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 4 
			 2001–02 0 4 
			 2002–03 1 4 
			 2003–04 3 4 
			 2004–05 3 5 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are at out-turn prices.

Iraq

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-infantry personnel have served in an infantry role in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Since July 2003 , approximately 5,280 non-infantry personnel have served in Iraq in an infantry role. It is not unusual for non-infantry personnel to deploy in an infantry role; every soldier in the British Army is trained as infanteer first, and as a specialist second.

Iraq

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received concerning the rocket attack on Basra Airport on the night of 6 January; and what arrests followed the attack.

Adam Ingram: On the evening of 6 January 2006 two rockets were fired at Basra Air Station. Neither caused any significant damage. No casualties were sustained and no arrests have been made yet.

Iraq

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an Iraqi national, Al-Saokhi, was detained and then released by British forces in 2005.

Adam Ingram: We have no record of an Iraqi national named Al-Saokhi being detained and then released by United Kingdom forces in 2005. However UK forces do not routinely keep records of individuals they detain temporarily.

Iraq

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops each country which has participated in the operation in Iraq has provided for active service in each year since the start of the war.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not keep records of coalition troop deployments. The current troop deployments of multinational partners in the UK's area of responsibility in Multi-national Division (South East) are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Australia 550 
			 Czech Republic 100 
			 Denmark 400 
			 Italy 2800 
			 Japan 550 
			 Lithuania 50 
			 Romania 600 
		
	
	More detailed information on coalition troop contributions is held by the individual countries that have deployed forces to Iraq.
	The following table provides information relating to UK troop deployments.
	
		
			 Roulement Dates Number of troops deployed 
		
		
			 Telic 1 February-June 2003 46,000 
			 Telic 2 July-October 2003 10,000 
			 Telic 3 November 2003-April 2004 8,900 
			 Telic 4 May-October 2004 8,200 
			 Telic 5 November 2004-April 2005 (7)9,200 
			 Telic 6 May-October 2005 8,500 
			 Telic 7 November 2005-April 2006(8) 8,000 
		
	
	(7) increase due to Op Bracken—Black Watch deployment
	(8) roulement is ongoing

NATO ISAF

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of NATO ISAF operation being integrated more closely with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress has been made in establishing a mechanism for increased alignment of the NATO ISAF mission and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: As NATO seeks to expand its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) further across Afghanistan, there are clear benefits in seeking greater synergy with the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) mission. These include less duplication of effort between the two missions, a more concerted approach to support for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and simplified coordination with the Government of Afghanistan of the international community's military involvement in the country.
	ISAFs mission is focused on reconstruction, though ISAF forces need also to be sufficiently robust to defend themselves against terrorists, insurgents and other illegally armed groups. The OEF mission also has a significant reconstruction element, though counter-terrorism is its core objective. ISAF does not, and will not, conduct counter-terrorism operations. NATO's revised operational plan for Afghanistan seeks to ensure greater synergy between the ISAF and OEF missions as ISAF expands, particularly in the field of support to reconstruction. The plan also incorporates clear command arrangements for coordination and, where necessary, deconfliction of operations under the respective missions.

Naval Deployment (Somalia)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will deploy Royal Navy ships off the coast of Somalia to prevent piracy.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy routinely deploys vessels and aircraft to the Horn of Africa, and many other regions as part of ongoing work to counter terrorism and crime on the high seas worldwide.

Rest and Relaxation

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the rest and relaxation flights for troops serving on (a) Op Telic and (b) other operations have been reduced.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 February 2006
	No. Flight schedules for operational theatres are maintained at a level sufficient to meet operational requirements, including rest and relaxation, and priority is given to aircraft serviceability to ensure that any interruptions or delays are kept to an absolute minimum.

Rest and Relaxation

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that flights returning troops from theatre for periods of rest and relaxation are as short as possible.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Usually, Rest and Relaxation (R and R) trooping flights will return to the Main Operating Base in the UK, RAF Brize Norton. Flights take the most direct route available, having due regard to political, weather and safety considerations, which may from time-to-time affect the route. Aircraft may also pick-up/drop-off in other airports such as Durham Tees Valley and Hannover, Germany, depending on the location of where the troops are normally stationed and the availability of aircraft and crews to undertake any additional flying required.

Rwanda

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) training and (b) support is being provided for the Rwandan military by UK forces.

Adam Ingram: The UK provides a small amount of training annually for the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF). This is focused on increasing Rwanda's capacity to contribute to international Peace Support Operations (PSO).
	Training activities this year have included sending Short Term Training Teams to Rwanda, as well as selected personnel to the British Peace Support Team (East Africa) in Karen, Kenya to attend United Nations sponsored and other relevant PSO courses. We have additionally provided training on courses in the UK. There are currently 140 Rwandan military engineers attending a course in humanitarian de-mining techniques at the British funded International Mine Action Training Centre in Nairobi.
	Our Defence Adviser in Kampala, who is accredited to Kigali, provides advice to the RDF on related military matters.

Troop Deployment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are deployed in (a) Germany, (b) Iraq, (c) Afghanistan, (d) Bosnia and Kosovo, (e) Cyprus, (f) the Falklands, (g) Gibraltar, (h) Ascension Island, (i) Diego Garcia and (j) Northern Ireland.

Adam Ingram: As of 2 February 2006, the United Kingdom had the following military contingents deployed overseas:
	
		
			 Overseas Troops 
		
		
			 Germany 20,885 
			 Iraq 8,077 
			 Afghanistan 871 
			 Bosnia and Kosovo 829 
			 Cyprus 3,458 
			 The Falklands and Ascension Island (South Atlantic Islands) 1,212 
			 Gibraltar 564 
			 Diego Garcia 37 
		
	
	As of 31 December 2005, the United Kingdom had 9,943 troops deployed in Northern Ireland.

Type 23 Frigate

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, column 1983W, on the Type 23 frigate, which Type 23 frigates will not be converted to operate Merlin and Lynx helicopters; and what the reasons are for not converting them.

Adam Ingram: All Type 23 frigates are capable of operating Lynx helicopters. HMS Norfolk, HMS Marlborough and HMS Grafton will all have left naval service by the end of March 2006 and will not therefore have been modified to operate Merlin helicopters. 12 of the remaining 13 Type 23 frigates are included in the modification programme and this will enable the military requirement to be met. There is currently no operational requirement to modify HMS Argyll, but this will be kept under review.

Warships

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) surface ships, (b) submarines and (c) auxiliary vessels are (i) available to and (ii) deployable by the Royal Navy; and what the equivalent numbers were in 1997.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Available Deployable 
			  31 January: 
			  1997 2006 1997 2006 
		
		
			 Surface 92 76 70 62 
			 Submarine 12 11 6 5 
			 Auxiliary 23 18 21 16 
		
	
	Available vessels are taken to be those within the total force structure. Deployable vessels are those in Fleet time that have achieved their mandatory collective training.

CABINET OFFICE

Public Appointments (Vetting)

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to ensure that those appointed to public bodies have received (a) a Criminal Records Bureau check and (b) a higher level clearance where appropriate; and if he will ensure those who have not been positively vetted are not appointed.

Jim Murphy: It is for individual departments to consider whether national security vetting, or other checks, should be applied to those who are appointed to the boards of their public bodies. The Cabinet Office issues guidance on public appointments to departments in its publication 'Making and Managing Public Appointments', available on the Public Appointment Unit's website www.publicappointments.gov.uk/publications. This advises departments to consider during their recruitment of appointees to public bodies whether they need to obtain a Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau because of the nature of the appointment. This will be particularly relevant to appointments to public bodies which work closely with children and vulnerable adults.
	Security vetting is carried out in accordance with HM Government policy, as set out in the (then) Prime Minister's statement to the House on 15 December 1994, Official Report, columns 764–66W. It is a fundamental principle that security vetting is applied proportionately according to the requirement for an individual to have access to sensitive Government information, or sites assessed to be at risk of terrorist attack.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many antisocial behaviour orders were (a) issued and (b) breached in each quarter of 2005;
	(2)  how many antisocial behaviour orders had been issued up to the latest date for which figures are available, in respect of people aged (a) 10–17 years, (b) 17–20 years and (c) 21 years and over; and how many of those orders have so far been breached;
	(3)  how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued during 2004, broken down by magistrates court area.

Hazel Blears: The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued, as reported to the Home Office, is currently available up to 30 June 2005. In the first and second quarters of 2005, the number of ASBOs issued at all courts were 910 and 918 respectively.
	From one April 1999 up to 31 May 2000 ASBO data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area. From 1 June 2000 up to 30 June 2005 the number of ASBOs issued to persons aged 10–17 years is 2,801; persons aged 18–20 years is 952; and persons aged 21 and over is 2,552.
	The information held centrally, on the Court Proceedings Database, as held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, only covers breach proceedings where there has been a conviction. Antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) breach data are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 for ASBOs issued since 1 June 2000. During this period 392 persons aged 10–17, 137 persons aged 18–20, and 264 persons aged 21 and over breached their ASBO on one or more occasions.
	The number of ASBOs issued in 2004 at all courts, as reported to the Home Office, is 2,660. A table giving a breakdown by age and criminal justice system area is available on the Crime Reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk. This table gives data by quarter and year since ASBOs were introduced, up to 30 June 2005 (latest available).

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what systems are in place to communicate information to police forces on individuals who are subject to antisocial behaviour orders with conditions which apply to the whole of England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) as a disposal type are recorded on the conviction page of the police national computer (PNC) although around half of the ASBOs issued are not part of a conviction. All ASBOs are recorded on the PNC which is accessible by all forces. Prohibitions are also recorded there.

Asylum Seekers

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seekers under the age of 18 years are detained in Government detention centres in the UK.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers is available from a snapshot taken on the last Saturday of the quarter and is published in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications. The last published data show that 75 persons recorded as being under 18-years-old, who had sought asylum at some stage, were being detained in the UK solely under Immigration Act powers as at 24 September 2005.
	The next available data as at 31 December 2005 will be published on 28 February 2006.
	This information is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is provided to the police on identifying injury caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hazel Blears: As part of the Initial Police Learning Development Programme, police recruits undertake a two and half day module in First Aid Training. Training on the general nature of poisons forms a module of the First Aid Training. The module looks at the general nature of poisons and how to spot the signs and symptoms of poisoning as well as how such an injury should be treated. There is no specific training in relation to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chief Constables

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to chief constables so that operational decisions taken by them across England and Wales are consistent.

Hazel Blears: I do not plan to issue such guidance because chief constables have operational responsibility for the direction and control of their force. In carrying out their functions chief constables and other police officers and police staff must have regard to any statutory codes of practice or guidance, for example, codes of practice issued under section 66 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or section 39A of the Police Act 1996. Plus, they must take into account any non-statutory guidance issued by the National Centre for Policing Excellence, the Association of Chief Police Officers and others.

Child Protection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Essex were given a caution for having indecent pictures of children on their computers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the number of offenders cautioned for possession of an indecent photograph of a child in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Essex in each of the past five years is shown in the table. It is not possible to identify those cases involving photographs on computers as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	
		Number of offenders cautioned for possession of an indecent photograph of a child(9) in(i) England and Wales, and (ii) Essex, 2000–04(10)
		
			 Area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (i) England and Wales 25 32 53 205 162 
			 (ii) Essex — — 2 21 8 
		
	
	'—' = Nil.
	(9) Offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 160 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Services Act 2000, section 41(3). (previously 181/06)
	(10) All data given refer to the principal offence only.

Citizenship

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that those seeking UK citizenship are required (a) to know the words of the National Anthem and (b) to have knowledge of the flags and patron saints of the nations of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The questions for the Life in the UK Test are based on the information in chapters two, three and four of the handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A journey to Citizenship." Details of National days and patron saints of the four nations are included in Chapter 3.
	Both the playing and participation in the singing of the national anthem is encouraged at Citizenship Ceremonies, but is not compulsory.

Community Support Officers

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers are employed in each police force.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is as at 30 September 2005 and is contained in the following table.
	
		Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) strength by English Government office regions and Wales (full-time equivalents)(11)—September 2005
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 North East 300 
			 Cleveland 86 
			 Durham 72 
			 Northumbria 143 
			   
			 North West 680 
			 Cheshire 77 
			 Cumbria 19 
			 Greater Manchester 264 
			 Lancashire 159 
			 Merseyside 161 
			   
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 647 
			 Humberside 20 
			 North Yorkshire 69 
			 South Yorkshire 125 
			 West Yorkshire 433 
			   
			 East Midlands 390 
			 Derbyshire 43 
			 Leicestershire 119 
			 Lincolnshire 78 
			 Northamptonshire 38 
			 Nottinghamshire 112 
			   
			 West Midlands 450 
			 Staffordshire 62 
			 Warwickshire 56 
			 West Mercia 86 
			 West Midlands 247 
			   
			 Eastern 563 
			 Bedfordshire 43 
			 Cambridgeshire 92 
			 Essex 193 
			 Hertfordshire 135 
			 Norfolk 67 
			 Suffolk 33 
			 London 2,067 
			 London, City of 14 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,053 
			   
			 South East 568 
			 Hampshire 23 
			 Kent 103 
			 Surrey 102 
			 Sussex 231 
			 Thames Valley 109 
			   
			 South West 377 
			 Avon and Somerset 146 
			 Devon and Cornwall 75 
			 Dorset 56 
			 Gloucestershire 62 
			 Wiltshire 38 
			   
			 Wales 282 
			 Dyfed-Powys 24 
			 Gwent 81 
			 North Wales 61 
			 South Wales 116 
			   
			 Total PCSO strength 6,324 
		
	
	(11) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 21 December 2005 on behalf of Basma Rahman, wife of Mazen Abdul Kareem Kadoora (Home Office Reference K1149709, acknowledgement reference MS7216).

Tony McNulty: I wrote to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 3 February 2006.

Criminal Appeal Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the operation of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Criminal Appeal Act 1995 amended provisions relating to appeals and references to the Court of Appeal and established the Criminal Cases Review Commission as a non-departmental public body . The Act sets out the structure of the Commission, the number of Commissioners and conditions of their appointment. It lays down circumstances where the Commissioners may refer a case; where they should conduct an investigation; their supplementary powers, their access to documents or materials, their power to appoint investigating officers; the conditions under which the Commission is able to disclose information; and makes detailed provision for the appointment of the Chairman and Commissioners and staff and the production of Annual Reports and Accounts. There are no current plans to amend the substantive provisions of the Act.

DNA Database

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of additional profiles which are likely to be added to the National DNA database as a result of the extension of police powers of arrest under section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Andy Burnham: The provisions governing the taking of DNA samples in section 63 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), as amended, provide that the police may take a non-intimate sample without consent from all persons who have been arrested for, charged with, informed that they will be reported for or convicted of a recordable offence. Section 24 of PACE as amended by section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 provides a single power of arrest for all offences but does not affect the above power which allows a DNA sample to be taken only from persons arrested, charged or convicted of a recordable offence. It is not expected to have any significant impact on the number of persons who may have a DNA sample taken and added to the national DNA database.

DNA Database

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he (a) has made and (b) plans to make to the recommendations in the Select Committee on Science and Technology's Seventh Paper, Forensic Science on Trial, HC96 2004–05, that the Government commission a cost-benefit analysis of the possibility of moving the national DNA database from a 10 marker system to a 16 marker system.

Andy Burnham: The Home Secretary responded to the Committee's recommendations in oral evidence given by Andy Burnham, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, to the Select Committee on 23 November 2005. The Home Secretary remains open to commissioning a cost-benefit analysis of the possibility of moving the National DNA Database from a 10 marker to a 16 marker system but considers that a necessary preparation for this analysis is the development of a strategy which ensures that any move to a system using more markers in the UK is compatible with similar moves in other European countries, to avoid closing off options for international co-operation in use of DNA in crime fighting in the future.
	This has been agreed with Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the inventor of DNA profiling.
	The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes and the European DNA Profiling Group have been working on such a strategy and have produced a paper outlining how all current European DNA Databases could move to a 15 marker system by varying routes depending on the technologies they currently use, but substantial further work is needed to develop this in detail. The timescale for the development of a new system would be a commercial decision for the companies which make the profiling technology by was estimated in late 2005 to be 2–3 years.

DNA Database

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any police force in England and Wales requests DNA samples from its officers.

Hazel Blears: Regulation 19 of the Police Regulations 2003 requires that every newly appointed member of a police force shall in accordance with the directions of the chief officer have a DNA sample taken.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been examined by the Criminal Case Review Commission in each year since its inception; and in how many cases (a) convictions have been found unsafe and (b) sentences have been found unfair.

Fiona Mactaggart: Since its inception the Commission had reviewed 7,590 cases by 31 December 2005, including 308 cases which had been referred to the appeal courts. 252 of the 308 referred cases had been heard by the appeal courts which had quashed 156 convictions and reduced 22 sentences. The breakdown by year is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of complaints Number of complaints upheld 
		
		
			 1997–98 11 7 
			 1998–99 15 2 
			 1999–2000 34 9 
			 2000–01 63 14 
			 2001–02 69 10 
			 2002–03 76 11 
			 2003–04 67 8 
			 2004–05 69 13 
			 1 April-31 December 2005 44 (12)3 
		
	
	(12) Five are still under consideration

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cases considered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year since 1996, broken down by (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications.

Fiona Mactaggart: Since April 1997 when the Commission came into existence, it has completed its considerations in 7,590 cases, the outcomes of which are listed in the following table. Of the 308 cases that had been referred, 252 had been heard. Of these, 178 had been successful, 73 unsuccessful and judgment had not been given in the remaining appeal.
	
		
			  Cases completed (not referred) Cases completed (referred) 
		
		
			 1997–98 299 11 
			 1998–99 461 31 
			 1999–2000 979 36 
			 2000–01 1,065 45 
			 2001–02 1,164 38 
			 2002–03 952 35 
			 2003–04 871 30 
			 2004–05 780 45 
			 31 March-31 December 2005 711 37

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the complaints made by (a) members of the public, (b) hon. Members and (c) members of the House of Lords about the conduct of the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the outcome of each complaint was.

Fiona Mactaggart: The total number of complaints and their outcomes since the Commission's inception in 1997 are set out in the following table. Most complaints are made by applicants or by family members or representatives on behalf of applicants. Where a Member of Parliament takes up a complaint on the request of an applicant the complaint is treated as if it had been made by the applicant. Complaints made by Members of Parliament are not recorded separately.
	
		
			  Number of complaints Number of complaints upheld 
		
		
			 1997–98 11 7 
			 1998–99 15 2 
			 1999–2000 34 9 
			 2000–01 63 14 
			 2001–02 69 10 
			 2002–03 76 11 
			 2003–04 67 8 
			 2004–05 69 13 
			 1 April-31 December 2005 44 (13)3 
		
	
	(13) Five are still under consideration

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, broken down by (a) sex and (b) grade in each year since 1996.

Fiona Mactaggart: Figures prior to 2000 are not readily available. Since 2000 the breakdown is as in the following table.
	
		
			  Executive Case review managers Administration 
			 Date Female Male Female Male Female Male 
		
		
			 31 March 2000 5 5 19 17 21 1 
			 31 March 2001 4 5 22 25 28 4 
			 31 March 2002 5 4 26 24 32 5 
			 31 March 2003 6 4 23 21 33 4 
			 31 March 2004 5 6 23 24 33 6 
			 31 March 2005 5 6 23 22 33 6

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission took (a) voluntary early severance and (b) early retirement in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: No Commissioners have taken voluntary early severance or early retirement since 1997. In 2001 three Commissioners resigned their appointments before their period of appointment came to an end.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disciplinary actions against officials employed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission were (a) commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Fiona Mactaggart: There have been two disciplinary actions against staff employed by the Commission. Both resulted in a sanction being applied. One was in 2001 and the other in 2003.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigating officers, and at what grade, were appointed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission during the period from 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2005.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Commission has required the appointment of 27 Investigating Officers to make inquiries to assist the Commission in 36 individual cases between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2005. One was a deputy chief constable, four were detective chief superintendents, 12 were detective superintendents, six were detective chief inspectors and four were detective inspectors.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the circumstances in which the Criminal Cases Review Commission may refer cases to the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The powers and duties of the Commission are set out in detail in sections 9–13 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. The main test in considering whether to refer a case to the appeal court is whether the CCRC consider that there is a real possibility that the conviction, verdict, finding or sentence would not be upheld.

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the professional forensic bodies' register of members who are suitably qualified to act as an expert witness.

Andy Burnham: There are a number of organisations (which could be described as professional forensic bodies") that maintain lists of persons who act as expert witnesses or, in some manner, are recommended as expert witnesses. The Home Office has no responsibility for these lists and has not undertaken any assessment of them.

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Home Office Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology.

Andy Burnham: The Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology was created in 1991 following the Wasserman Report" on the provision of forensic pathology in England and Wales. The role of the board was to advise the Home Secretary on forensic pathology matters with particular reference to the national aspects of forensic pathology services in England and Wales, such as appointment and accreditation, quality assurance, training and research and development. In response to the Leishman Review" of forensic pathology the role of the board has been transferred to other bodies. The board still exists and one of its sub-committees is still responsible for matters related to complaints but the transfer of functions is expected to be completed imminently. At that point the board shall be disbanded.

FRANK Campaign

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned on the effectiveness of the FRANK campaign.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office and Department of Health have jointly commissioned three pieces of ongoing research to study the effectiveness of the FRANK campaign: a campaign tracking survey; a stakeholder satisfaction survey; and research to inform the development of campaign messages. There has also been a single wave of research into caller satisfaction with the FRANK helpline.

Harmondsworth Detention Centre

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees have been detained in Harmondsworth Detention Centre over the last three years for over (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not hold information on the total number of persons who were detained over the last three years for specific periods of time. It would only be available by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter.
	A table showing the numbers detained at Harmondsworth as at the last Saturday of the third quarter of the last three years is shown, as the published data does not show the length and place of detention in one table.
	Further information about persons detained can be found on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Persons recorded as being held in Harmondsworth Immigration Service Removal Centre in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, by length of detention(14)(15)
		
			  Number of individuals as at: 
			 Length of detention(16)(17) 27 September 2003 26 June 2004(18) 24 September 2005 
		
		
			 14 days or less 45 60 175 
			 15 to 29 days 35 70 85 
			 1 month to less than 2 months 40 95 80 
			 2 months to less than 3 months 20 35 40 
			 3 months to less than 4 months 10 25 35 
			 4 months to less than 6 months 10 35 35 
			 6 months to less than 1 year 10 45 40 
			 1 year or more 10 15 5 
			 Total 170 375 490 
		
	
	(14) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2, may not sum due to rounding and exclude persons detained in police cells and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers.
	(15) Relates to current period of detention only.
	(16) 2 months is defined as 61 days; 4 months is defined as 122 days; 6 months is defined as 182 days.
	(17) There were no detainees in Harmondsworth on 25 September 2004, due to a major incident that occurred in July of this year, resulting in temporary closure.
	(18) Due to a fire and subsequent refurbishment at Harmondsworth, no detainees were being held there as at 25 September 2004, so figures as at 26 June 2004 have been provided.

National Probation Directorate

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Director of Probation of the National Probation Directorate is entitled to performance-related bonuses; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The director of the National Probation Directorate is eligible for a performance related bonus each year, based on performance against objectives. This is in line with normal pay award arrangements for the senior civil service.

Neighbourhood Wardens

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether neighbourhood wardens will operate in rural areas outside villages and towns; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply. 
	Wardens can function anywhere. It is for local authorities to decide whether warden schemes are appropriate to their area and where they might operate.

Indecent Images (Cautions)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cautions were issued for the offence of having indecent pictures of children in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the number of offenders cautioned for possession of an indecent photograph of a child in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Essex in each of the past five years is shown in the table.
	It is not possible to identify those cases involving photographs on computers as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	
		Number of offenders cautioned for possession of an indecent photograph of a child(19) in (i) England and Wales, and (ii) Essex, 2000–04(20)
		
			 Area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (i) England and Wales 25 32 53 205 162 
			 (ii) Essex — — 2 21 8 
		
	
	(19) Offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 160 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Services Act 2000, section 41(3) (previously 181/06).
	(20) All data given refer to the principal offence only.

National Offender Management Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his five year plan for the National Offender Management Service; and whether the National Probation Service will remain part of it.

Fiona Mactaggart: I plan to publish shortly a five year strategy for reducing re-offending and the work of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The strategy will provide a vision for the whole of NOMS and its constituent parts, including the National Probation Service.

Police

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to create further police anti-terrorist units;
	(2)  when the regionalisation programme for special branches is expected to be completed.

Charles Clarke: The Special Branch regionalisation programme continues to develop in line with police counter-terrorism commitments. Special Branch Regional Intelligence Cells (RICs) have been in place since April 2003, further to recommendations made in the HMIC Thematic Inspection of Special Branch and Ports Policing. They are now operating in all ACPO regions enabling greater efficiency and cross regional co-ordination. They continue to develop.
	A Counter-Terrorist Support Unit (CTSU) was established in the West Midlands RIC in 2004 to provide intelligence analysis support for the East and West Midlands regions. The police are currently giving further consideration to extending the CTSU concept to other force regions.
	The Government remain committed to ensuring that the Police Service has the necessary resources to meet its CT commitments. The additional police counter-terrorism funding, which amounts to £173 million over the next two years, announced on the 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 57WS, will strengthen the Police Service's intelligence and investigative capability both in the capital and in local and regional policing.

Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will rank each (a) English police force and (b) English Basic Command Unit by the ratio of burglaries to households in their area in the latest reporting period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Basic command unit (BCD)—burglary in a dwelling per 1,000 households 2004–05
		
			 England 
			 Police force area Basic command unit Burglary dwelling offences per 1,000 households 2004–05 
		
		
			 Hampshire Isle of Wight 4 
			 Norfolk Norfolk Western 4 
			 Essex Braintree 5 
			 Hampshire New Forest 5 
			 Suffolk Suffolk Eastern 5 
			 Suffolk Suffolk Western 5 
			 Norfolk Norfolk Eastern 5 
			 Cumbria Barrow and Kendal 5 
			 Essex Chelmsford 6 
			 Derbyshire Buxton (B Division) 6 
			 Hampshire West Hampshire2 6 
			 Wiltshire Chippenham (C) 6 
			 Dorset Dorset Eastern 6 
			 Hampshire Central Hampshire 6 
			 Hampshire Solent East 2 6 
			 Dorset Poole 6 
			 Hampshire North East Hampshire 6 
			 West Mercia Shropshire (F Division) 6 
			 Devon and Cornwall Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 6 
			 Thames Valley Northern Oxfordshire 7 
			 Wiltshire Salisbury (A) 7 
			 Essex Tendring 7 
			 Essex Rayleigh 7 
			 Sussex North Downs 7 
			 Lancashire Lancashire Southern 7 
			 Devon and Cornwall North and East Devon 7 
			 Essex Colchester 7 
			 Metropolitan Police Kingston upon Thames 7 
			 Cambridgeshire Central 7 
			 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire Eastern 7 
			 Surrey West Surrey 7 
			 Avon and Somerset Somerset West 7 
			 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire Western 7 
			 Cumbria Workington and Whitehaven 7 
			 Sussex West Downs 8 
			 Staffordshire Chase 8 
			 Norfolk Norfolk Central 8 
			 Dorset Dorset Western 8 
			 Lancashire Lancashire Northern 8 
			 Avon and Somerset Somerset East 8 
			 Lincolnshire South Lincolnshire 8 
			 Cheshire Congleton and Vale Royal 8 
			 West Mercia Hereford (E Division) 8 
			 Hampshire Havant 8 
			 Thames Valley Southern Oxfordshire 8 
			 Gloucestershire Cotswold and Stroud 8 
			 Cumbria Carlisle and Penrith 8 
			 Kent South-East Kent 8 
			 Essex Thurrock 8 
			 Staffordshire North Staffordshire 8 
			 Surrey East Surrey 8 
			 Suffolk Suffolk Southern 8 
			 Thames Valley West Berkshire 8 
			 Durham South Durham(21) 9 
			 Surrey North Surrey 9 
			 Kent Maidstone 9 
			 Warwickshire Southern 9 
			 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire 9 
			 Hampshire Southampton 9 
			 Kent Canterbury 9 
			 Kent Weald 9 
			 Metropolitan Police Sutton 9 
			 Devon and Cornwall South and West Devon 9 
			 Thames Valley Aylesbury Vale 9 
			 Cambridgeshire Southern 9 
			 Kent West Kent 9 
			 Avon and Somerset Bath and North East Somerset 10 
			 West Mercia South Worcestershire (C Division) 10 
			 Cheshire Crewe 10 
			 Sussex East Downs 10 
			 Surrey North-West Surrey 10 
			 Metropolitan Police Havering 10 
			 Cheshire Halton 10 
			 Cheshire Chester and Ellesmere Port 10 
			 Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Western 10 
			 Avon and Somerset North Somerset 10 
			 Lincolnshire East Lincolnshire 10 
			 Thames Valley Milton Keynes 11 
			 Lincolnshire West Lincolnshire 11 
			 Kent Medway 11 
			 Durham North Durham(21) 11 
			 Metropolitan Police Bexley 11 
			 West Midlands West Midlands J2 11 
			 Staffordshire Trent Valley 11 
			 Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Eastern 11 
			 Essex Harlow 11 
			 Kent Swale 11 
			 Cheshire Macclesfield 11 
			 Derbyshire Chesterfield (C Division) 11 
			 Leicestershire East Leicestershire 11 
			 Gloucestershire Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 11 
			 Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Western 12 
			 West Mercia North Worcestershire (D Division) 12 
			 Metropolitan Police Merton 12 
			 Avon and Somerset South Gloucester 12 
			 Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Area B 12 
			 Bedfordshire Dunstable 12 
			 Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Eastern 12 
			 Kent North Kent 12 
			 Lancashire Lancashire Western 12 
			 Sussex Hastings and Rother 12 
			 Cheshire Warrington 12 
			 Leicestershire North Leicestershire 12 
			 Cleveland Langbaurgh (Redcar and Cleveland) 13 
			 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire Central 13 
			 Thames Valley Thames Forest 13 
			 Essex Southend 13 
			 Essex Basildon 13 
			 Bedfordshire Bedford 13 
			 Lancashire Lancashire Eastern 13 
			 Devon and Cornwall Plymouth 13 
			 South Yorkshire Rotherham 13 
			 Kent Thanet 13 
			 Wiltshire Swindon 13 
			 Derbyshire Alfreton (A Division) 13 
			 West Midlands West Midlands H2 14 
			 Hampshire Portsmouth 14 
			 West Yorkshire Calderdale 14 
			 West Yorkshire Dewsbury 14 
			 Merseyside Wirral 14 
			 Metropolitan Police Richmond upon Thames 14 
			 Lancashire Pennine 14 
			 Dorset Bournemouth 14 
			 Merseyside Sefton 14 
			 Merseyside St. Helens 14 
			 South Yorkshire Barnsley 14 
			 West Yorkshire Huddersfield 14 
			 Gloucestershire Forest and Gloucester 14 
			 West Midlands West Midlands G1 15 
			 West Yorkshire Keighley 15 
			 Metropolitan Police Bromley 15 
			 Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Central 15 
			 Metropolitan Police Croydon 15 
			 Cambridgeshire Northern 15 
			 West Midlands West Midlands F1 15 
			 Thames Valley Chiltern Vale 15 
			 West Mercia Telford and the Wrekin (G Division) 15 
			 West Midlands West Midlands D2 15 
			 West Midlands Solihull 15 
			 Warwickshire Northern 16 
			 Derbyshire Derby (D Division) 16 
			 West Yorkshire Wakefield 16 
			 Leicestershire West Leicestershire 16 
			 West Midlands West Midlands K1 16 
			 Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Northern 16 
			 West Midlands West Midlands M1 16 
			 Metropolitan Police City of Westminster 17 
			 Greater Manchester Wigan 17 
			 West Midlands West Midlands H1 17 
			 Metropolitan Police Barking and Dagenham 17 
			 Metropolitan Police Harrow 17 
			 Staffordshire Stoke on Trent 17 
			 Thames Valley Oxford 18 
			 Cleveland Stockton 18 
			 Lancashire Lancashire Central 18 
			 Merseyside Knowsley 18 
			 Greater Manchester Bury 18 
			 Sussex Brighton and Hove 18 
			 Metropolitan Police Redbridge 18 
			 West Midlands West Midlands J1 18 
			 West Midlands West Midlands M3 18 
			 Metropolitan Police Kensington and Chelsea 18 
			 Metropolitan Police Greenwich 19 
			 Metropolitan Police Tower Hamlets 19 
			 Metropolitan Police Waltham Forest 19 
			 South Yorkshire Sheffield South 19 
			 Metropolitan Police Enfield 19 
			 West Yorkshire City and Holbeck CA 19 
			 Greater Manchester Trafford 20 
			 West Midlands West Midlands G2 20 
			 Thames Valley Reading and Wokingham 20 
			 Metropolitan Police Newham 20 
			 Metropolitan Police Barnet 20 
			 West Midlands West Midlands F3 20 
			 Metropolitan Police Hillingdon 20 
			 West Midlands West Midlands E2 20 
			 Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Area D 21 
			 Metropolitan Police Wandsworth 21 
			 Humberside North Lincolnshire 21 
			 Greater Manchester Tameside 21 
			 Metropolitan Police Hounslow 21 
			 West Midlands West Midlands E3 21 
			 West Midlands West Midlands K2 21 
			 West Midlands West Midlands M2 22 
			 Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Area A 22 
			 Greater Manchester Rochdale 22 
			 Metropolitan Police Ealing 22 
			 Northumbria Newcastle Central 22 
			 South Yorkshire Sheffield North 22 
			 West Midlands West Midlands F2 22 
			 Cleveland Hartlepool 22 
			 Greater Manchester Oldham 23 
			 West Midlands West Midlands D3 23 
			 Metropolitan Police Southwark 23 
			 Metropolitan Police Lewisham 23 
			 Greater Manchester Stockport 23 
			 West Midlands West Midlands E1 24 
			 Metropolitan Police Lambeth 24 
			 Metropolitan Police Camden 24 
			 South Yorkshire Doncaster 24 
			 West Midlands West Midlands D1 24 
			 West Yorkshire Bradford North 25 
			 Metropolitan Police Brent 25 
			 West Yorkshire Bradford South 26 
			 Metropolitan Police Hammersmith and Fulham 26 
			 Bedfordshire Luton 26 
			 Northamptonshire Northampton 26 
			 South Yorkshire Sheffield Central 27 
			 Leicestershire Central Leicestershire 27 
			 Merseyside North Liverpool 28 
			 West Yorkshire Chapel Town AC 28 
			 Greater Manchester Salford 28 
			 Cleveland Middlesbrough 28 
			 Metropolitan Police Islington 29 
			 Metropolitan Police Hackney 30 
			 West Yorkshire Killingbeck BB 30 
			 Humberside North East Lincolnshire 30 
			 Thames Valley Slough and District 30 
			 Merseyside South Liverpool 30 
			 Humberside Kingston upon Hull 31 
			 Greater Manchester Bolton 31 
			 Metropolitan Police Haringey 32 
			 Greater Manchester North Manchester 34 
			 West Yorkshire Pudsey and Weetwood AA 39 
			 Greater Manchester South Manchester 41 
			 Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Area C 55 
			 London, City of Bishopsgate * 
			 London, City of Snowhill * 
			 Avon and Somerset Bristol(21) — 
			 Avon and Somerset Central Bristol(21) — 
			 Avon and Somerset North Bristol(21) — 
			 Avon and Somerset South Bristol(21) — 
			 Durham Darlington(21) — 
			 Durham Derwentside(21) — 
			 Durham Durham(21) — 
			 Durham Easington(21) — 
			 Durham Sedgefield(21) — 
			 Durham Wear-Tees(21) — 
			 Essex Stansted Airport — 
			 Hampshire Andover(21) — 
			 Hampshire Basingstoke(21) — 
			 Hampshire Basingstoke and Deane(21) — 
			 Hampshire Eastleigh(21) — 
			 Hampshire Fareham(21) — 
			 Hampshire Gosport(21) — 
			 Metropolitan Police Heathrow — 
			 Northumbria Gateshead(21) — 
			 Northumbria Gateshead East(21) — 
			 Northumbria Gateshead West(21) — 
			 Northumbria Newcastle East(21) — 
			 Northumbria Newcastle North(21) — 
			 Northumbria Newcastle West(21) — 
			 Northumbria North Northumberland(21) — 
			 Northumbria North Tyneside(21) — 
			 Northumbria Northumberland(21) — 
			 Northumbria South Tyneside(21) — 
			 Northumbria South-East Northumberland(21) — 
			 Northumbria South-West Northumberland(21) — 
			 Northumbria Sunderland(21) — 
			 Northumbria SunderlandCity(21) — 
			 Northumbria Sunderland West(21) — 
			 Northumbria Tynemouth(21) — 
			 Northumbria Wallsend(21) — 
			 Northumbria Washington(21) — 
			 Sussex Gatwick — 
		
	
	(21) Changes in BCU boundaries mean that figures for 2003–04 and 2004–05 are not comparable.
	Notes:
	1. Metropolitan police figures will not agree with totals published in 'Crime in England and Wales 2004–05' since not all crimes are assigned to BCUs.
	2. Offence rates are not applicable for airports as they have no resident population.
	3. All crime rates are based on mid-2003 population estimates supplied by the Office for National Statistics.
	4. Caution needs to be taken when considering crime rates of city centre areas, due to the very small population and household levels in these areas. The very high reported crime rates in city centres are partly due to the use of small resident population and household figures as the denominator of the crime rate. The 'transient population' that migrates into these areas on a daily basis, either for work or leisure, will not be reflected in the resident population figures. Changes in population estimates between years must also be borne in mind when comparing changes in crime rates.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there have been in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Police officer numbers have increased by 15,588 (12 per cent.) between March 2001 and September 2005. The following table sets out the year by year numbers and the increase. In addition to police officers, at the end of September 2005 there were 6,324 community support officers and a record 71,967 police (support) staff involved in the delivery of policing.
	
		Police officer strength March 2001 to September 2005
		
			 As at 31 March Police officer strength Increase/ decrease Police staff strength Increase Community Support Officer strength 
		
		
			 2001 125,682 1,512 54,588 1,361 — 
			 2002 129,603 3,921 58,909 4,321 — 
			 2003 133,366 3,763 62,172 3,263 1,176 
			 2004 139,200 5,834 67,581 5,409 3,417 
			 2005 141,278 2,087 70,687 3,106 6,261 
			 2005 (30 September) 141,270 -8 71,967 1,280 6,324

Police

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to the police on procedures to follow when they need to verify the identity of a suspect whose face is covered for religious reasons.

Charles Clarke: Section 64A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 provides that photographs can be taken of persons detained at a police station and elsewhere than at a police station. Under the PACE Code of Practice for the Identification of Persons by Police Officers (Code D), the officer proposing to take a detainee's photograph may require the person to remove any item or substance worn on, or over, or any part of, their head or face. If the person does not comply with such a requirement, the officer may remove the item or substance. In order to obtain a suspect's consent and co-operation to remove an item of religious headwear or face covering to take a photograph, officer should consider whether in the removal of the situation the removal of the headwear or covering and the taking of the photograph should be by an officer of the same sex as the person. It would be appropriate for these actions to be conducted out of public view.

Police

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received a business plan from the police authorities of Wales relating to the creation of a single strategic force in Wales.

Hazel Blears: A single joint submission from all four Welsh police forces and authorities was received by the 23 December 2005 deadline.

Prisoners

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) escapes and (b) unapproved absences there have been from each English prison in each year since 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on the number of escapes and absconds broken down by prison establishment in England and Wales from 1996–97 to 27 January 2006 is shown in tables which have been placed in the Library. The total number of absconds and release on temporary licence failures is also detailed. However, a breakdown by establishment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of temporary release failures compared to the actual number of releases on Release On Temporary Licence (ROTL) per year is very low. In 2002, 287,732 ROTL licences were granted and in 2003 there were 328,780. The corresponding temporary release failures were 316 and 405 respectively.
	Prisoners released on ROTL are risk assessed before any release takes place. A Prison Governor will not release any prisoner who is considered to be a risk to the public or who is unlikely to be able to comply with the terms of the ROTL licence. Any failure of ROTL is taken seriously and will be taken into consideration with any further ROTL applications.
	Prison staff are vigilant in their day-to-day activities in preventing escapes. This is supported by Prison Service Orders, professional expertise and regular internal reminders of the need to manage prisoners decently while preventing their escape. The level of escapes continues to be well below the Key Performance Indicator target. In the period April to 31 December 2005 there have been no escapes from prison establishments, three from prison escorts and two from court escorts bringing the overall total to five. This compares favourably to last year's total of 15 escapes for the same period.
	Each abscond from an open or semi open prison is investigated locally and findings inform both local and national policy.

Prisoners

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners held in Her Majesty's prisons (a) are non-British EU nationals, (b) are non-EU foreign nationals, (c) are seeking leave to remain in the United Kingdom and (d) have been UK residents for less than 10 years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the number of (a) non-British Nationals and (b) non-EU foreign nationals as recorded in the Prison Service IT system is provided in the table. Full statistics on the nationality of prisoners within prisons in England and Wales are available in the Population in Custody Quarterly Brief, April to June 2005, on the Home Office website.
	Regarding parts (c) and (d) of the question, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not keep central records of prisoners presently seeking leave to remain in the United Kingdom or of their length of residence in the United Kingdom.
	
		Prison population showing non-British nationals, 30 June 2005
		
			 Category of foreign national Male Female Total 
		
		
			 non-British EU nationals 1,439 173 1,612 
			 non-EU Foreign nationals 7,336 701 8,037

Prisoners Visits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Winchester of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2034W, on prisoners, whether (a) HMP Nottingham, (b) HMP Holme House, (c) HMP Usk, (d) HMP Prescoed, (e) HMP Durham and (f) HMP Doncaster comply with the minimum visit requirements for prisoners on the basic regime.

Fiona Mactaggart: Each of the establishments is compliant. The following table sets out the entitlement for convicted and unconvicted prisoners on the basic level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme.
	
		
			  Prison  Visits—convicted prisoners Visits— unconvicted  prisoners 
		
		
			 Nottingham 2 x 1 hour per 28 days 3 x 30 minutes per week 
			 Holme House 1 x 1 hour per week 3 x 1 hour per week 
			 Usk 2 x 2 hours per week No unconvicted prisoners 
			 Prescoed 2 x 1 hour per 28 days No unconvicted prisoners 
			 Durham 2 x 1 hour per 28 days 3 x 1 hour per week 
			 Doncaster 2 x 1 hour per 28 days Daily x 30 minutes Monday to Friday

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances cases of visitors and staff found in possession of drugs across the prison estate are not routinely referred to the police for investigation; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Since 6 December 2005 the policy on action to be taken when visitors or staff are found to be in possession of classified drugs on entry into a public sector Prison Service establishment is that all cases will routinely be referred to the police for investigation.
	If there are wholly exceptional circumstances which could justify divergence from this policy the case must be referred to a Prison Service director for consideration.

Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been assaulted by other prisoners in Coldingley prison in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures in the following table are those incidents where assaults have been reported on the Incident Reporting System.
	
		Coldingley prisoner on prisoner assaults
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996 4 
			 1997 0 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 1 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 6 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 16 
			 2005 7 
			 Total 36

Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes have taken place from Coldingley prison in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many of these escapees were subsequently recaptured.

Fiona Mactaggart: One prisoner escaped from Coldingley prison in 1998 and was recaptured.

Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed at Coldingley prison in each of the last six years for which figures are available, broken down by rank.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table contains details of the number of staff employed at HMP Coldingley (on a headcount basis) in each year since 1999, broken down by grade. The figures represent a snapshot of staffing levels on 31 December each year.
	
		Coldingley staffing levels by rank
		
			  31 December 
			 Grade group/grade 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Unified
			 Senior Manager B — — 1 1 1 — — 
			 Senior Manager C — 1 — — — 1 1 
			 Manager E — 1 1 1 2 3 2 
			 Manager F — 3 3 4 4 3 1 
			 Manager G — — — — — 1 1 
			 Governor 2 1 — — — — — — 
			 Governor 4 1 — — — — — — 
			 Governor 5 3 — — — — — — 
			 Governor five APS 2 — — — — — — 
			 Principal Officer 7 6 7 8 4 6 5 
			 Principal Officer IDS — — — 1 — — — 
			 Senior Officer 21 21 21 19 18 20 20 
			 Senior Officer IDS — — — — — — 1 
			 Prison Officer 70 66 65 66 72 68 64 
			 Prison Officer IDS — — — — — — 1 
			 OSG
			 Operational Support Grade 45 33 33 30 36 30 32 
			 
			 Admin
			 Senior Manager D — 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Grade 7 1 — — — — — — 
			 Manager E — — 1 1 2 2 2 
			 Manager F — 1 1 1 1 1 2 
			 Manager G — — — — — — 1 
			 HEO 2 — — — — — — 
			 EO 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 
			 AO 11 12 13 13 15 16 12 
			 AA 3 3 2 4 3 3 4 
			 Personal Secretary 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Typist 1 — — — — — — 
			 
			 Chaplaincy
			 Chaplain 2 3 3 3 2 3 2 
			 
			 Healthcare
			 Nursing Grades 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Medical Officer 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 
			 Psychology
			 Psychological Assistant 1 — — — — — — 
			 
			 Industrial
			 Manager G — — — — — 1 — 
			 Industrial 15 16 16 18 18 19 18 
			 
			 Non Industrial
			 Manager F — — — — — 1 — 
			 Manager G — 3 3 3 3 3 4 
			 Catering Manager 2 1 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Higher Instructional Officer 2 — — — — — — 
			 Instructional Officer 16 16 16 16 14 15 14 
			 Prof and Tech Officer 2 3 3 2 3 2 2 
			 Technical Officer — 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Support Band 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Total 215 200 201 203 210 210 200

Prisons

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the amount of Brazilian beef procured for (a) prisons and (b) young offender institutions during the last year for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service procured from contracted sources 7,836 kilos of Brazilian beef for prisons and 2,319 kilos for young offenders institutions from February 2005 to January 2006—all in the form of corned beef.
	Corned beef is not manufactured in the UK.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received on the restructuring of the probation service from (a) former employees of the probation service, (b) the author of Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime" and (c) advisers to the Government on crime.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government's proposals for restructuring probation are based on Lord Carter's analysis of the correctional services as set out in the paper Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime". These proposals were set out in the consultation paper Restructuring Probation to reduce re-offending", published on 20 October 2005. We plan to publish a summary of responses to the consultation—which included responses from some former employees of the probation service—within three months of its conclusion on 20 December.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses there have been to the consultation paper on restructuring probation to reduce re-offending; and how many of these supported the introduction of contestability into the national probation service.

Fiona Mactaggart: We have received 748 responses to the consultation on restructuring probation to reduce re-offending. Work analysing the responses is not yet complete. We will publish a summary of responses and the key points raised within the three month timescale set out in the Cabinet Office guidelines on public consultations.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to retain the 42 probation areas under National Offender Management Service arrangements.

Fiona Mactaggart: We will consider how best the probation service, as well as the wider criminal justice system, can take into account changes to police structures once final decisions on future police boundaries have been taken. Co-terminosity in the criminal justice system remains an important principle.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of the national probation service within the National Offender Management Service five year plan.

Fiona Mactaggart: A five year strategy for reducing reoffending and the work of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will be published shortly. The strategy will provide a vision for the whole of NOMS and its constituent parts, including the national probation service.

Probation Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislation he is restructuring the Probation Service in England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: We intend to bring forward legislation to restructure probation services as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

Prosecutions (Suicide)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 in each year since 1976.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform shows the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for aiding or abetting suicide under section 2 of the Suicide act 1961 in England and Wales from 1976 to 2004.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of 'Aiding Suicide'(22), England and Wales, 1976–2004
		
			  Total proceeded against 
		
		
			 1976 — 
			 1977 2 
			 1978 — 
			 1979 — 
			 1980 1 
			 1981 4 
			 1982 2 
			 1983 2 
			 1984 1 
			 1985 — 
			 1986 1 
			 1987 2 
			 1988 1 
			 1989 5 
			 1990 11 
			 1991 1 
			 1992 4 
			 1993 3 
			 1994 — 
			 1995 3 
			 1996 3 
			 1997 4 
			 1998 1 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 4 
			 2001 2 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 3 
		
	
	(22) An offence under the Suicide Act 1961, sec.2(1)
	Note:
	These data are provided on the principal offence basis
	Source:
	RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Rape

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of contested prosecutions for rape in the Avon and Somerset police force area have resulted in a conviction in the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of defendants pleading not guilty of rape and the number and percentage of these found guilty of rape at the Crown court in Avon and Somerset police force area, is provided in the attached table. Figures are presented for the years 2000–04.
	
		Number of defendants pleading not-guilty of rape and the number and percentage of these found guilty of rape at the Crown court, Avon and Somerset police force area, 2000–2004(23)
		
			  Not guilty pleas Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 2000 25 3 12 
			 2001 28 9 32 
			 2002 22 7 32 
			 2003 48 13 27 
			 2004 40 13 33 
		
	
	(23) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Note: Rape includes rape of a female and male.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to implement the recommendation of his Department's publication Breaking the Circle: A Report of the Review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders", published in July 2002; and what assessment has been made of the impact of the decision to date not to implement these recommendations on the rehabilitation of offenders.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government have accepted the majority of the review's recommendations and will legislate when parliamentary time allows.
	We are also considering what might be necessary for the disclosure regime in the light of the Bichard report which dealt with criminal records in the context of the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
	No assessment has been made regarding the impact of non-implementation. However, the Criminal Records Bureau's Code of Practice requires that employers receiving disclosure information do not unfairly discriminate against applicants on the basis of previous convictions.

Scottish Intelligence Database

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use is made by English police forces of the Scottish Intelligence Database.

Hazel Blears: The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) have full access to the Scottish Intelligence Database (SID) through their Scottish Regional Office. Protocols exist to disseminate intelligence through NCIS to forces in England and Wales. A memorandum of understanding is currently being developed that may be used to grant full access on a force-by-force basis in England and Wales.

Sexual Abuse

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to support the recovery of children and adults who have suffered childhood sexual abuse.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government are putting real investment into supporting victims of sexual violence, including childhood sexual abuse. Over the last two years £4 million from the Home Office Victims Fund has been used to strengthen specialist services. A further £1.25 million will be made available specifically for the development of voluntary sector sexual violence services in 2006–07.
	A mapping exercise of service provision is currently being conducted. This will provide valuable information about the level and strength of specialist services available to victims of sexual violence in England and Wales.

Special Branch

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels of Special Branch were in each police force in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: For security and operational reasons the Home Office does not comment on the distribution of police resources and staffing levels in relation to counter-terrorism.
	Published information on police strength by police force area is available for rank, gender and ethnicity but not function. Figures on police strength are published in Home Office statistical bulletins, copies of which can be found in the library or on the internet site: www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Special Branch

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from chief constables on the size of Special Branch within police forces.

Charles Clarke: I have not received any representations. Each police force has its own special branch and the resource allocation, in terms of staffing and associated costs, to special branch is the responsibility of chief officers in each force.
	The Government remains committed to ensuring that the police service has the necessary resources to meet its CT commitments. The additional police counter-terrorism funding announced on the 25 January will strengthen the police service's intelligence and investigative capability both in the capital and in local and regional policing.

Timber

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of Indonesian rainforest plywood in the new Home Office building.

Charles Clarke: The Department's 2 Marsham Street Headquarters has been procured via a 29-year PFI contract with Annes Gate Property plc which commenced on 26 March 2002. AGP has confirmed that it has complied with the Department's policy on the use of timber from sustainable sources as required by its contract with the Department. AGP has sourced any plywood that it has procured for the building from a sustainable supplier certified under the Forestry Stewardship Council scheme. The Department clarified its timber purchasing policy in mid-2003 to make clear that it also applied to any timber used in the construction process that would not be used in the completed building. Following this clarification AGP decided that any previous use of Indonesian plywood in the construction process should cease. Since the building opened AGP's facilities management sub-contractor has had its environmental management system certified under ISO 14001.

Violent Assaults

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent assaults where the perpetrators recorded the incidents with mobile phone cameras have been reported in each local authority area in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available from the recorded crime statistics.

Worker Registration Scheme

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many workers from EU accession countries have (a) applied and (b) been accepted under the worker registration scheme since 1 May 2004.

Tony McNulty: The latest published Accession Monitoring Report covers the period May 2004 to September 2005 and sets out the number of citizens from the EU accession countries (A8 nationals) who have applied to register with the worker registration scheme (WRS) during this period. This report is available on the Home Office website at: http://www.ind. homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/about_us/reports/accession_monitoring.html.
	The next report, which will cover the period May 2004 to December 2005, will be published on 28 February 2006.
	Table one (page five) of the report shows that during May 2004 to September 2005, 293,215 A8 nationals applied for registration, of which 277,060 were accepted and issued with work cards and certificates.
	The figures shown in the report are for initial applications only; they do not include multiple applications, where a worker is doing more than one job simultaneously, or re-registrations, where a worker has changed employers.
	The data has been obtained from local management information using the WRS database. They have not been provided under national statistics protocols and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

TREASURY

Biodiesel Duty

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the definition is of (a) diesel quality liquid fuel, (b) biomass and (c) waste cooking oil for the purposes of assessing the eligibility of fuels for the reduced rate of duty for biodiesel;
	(2)  what the criteria are by which users of cooking oil and straight vegetable oil have been judged not to qualify for the reduced rate of fuel duty applicable to biodiesel.

John Healey: I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (John Hemming) on 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 2265W.

Community Development Finance Institutions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the consultation on extending the community investment tax relief scheme to investments in community development finance institutions' personal lending activities.

Ivan Lewis: The outcome of the consultation on extending Community Investment Tax Relief to the personal lending activities of community development finance institutions was announced in the pre-Budget report 2005. The consultation indicated support for an extension and highlighted a range of practical issues that need addressing. The Government are continuing to consider the case for, and practicalities of, this extension.

Credit Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the impact of raising the maximum rate of interest that credit unions can charge on loans on (a) the availability of credit and (b) the rate of take up of loans.

Ivan Lewis: The pre-Budget report 2005 announced the intention to increase the maximum interest rate that credit unions can charge on loans from 1 per cent. a month to 2 per cent. a month, following consultation. This increase is designed to give all credit unions the flexibility to better serve low-income groups. The consultation provided strong evidence to suggest that this change will have a positive effect on the availability of credit union loans for those encountering exclusion from mainstream financial services, and will facilitate an expansion in credit union membership to those currently unable to access credit at affordable rates.

Energy Efficiency

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the (a) benefits and (b) costs to (i) businesses and (ii) the Department of having different rules for the eligibility for enhanced capital allowances for energy efficient (A) display light fittings and (B) general light fittings.

John Healey: No such assessment has been made. The rules for 100 per cent. first-year enhanced capital allowances for energy saving plant and machinery do not distinguish between display light fittings and general light fittings.

Film Tax Credit

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when details of the new film tax credit to replace the section 48 credit will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Chancellor made a number of key announcements regarding the new film tax incentives at the pre-Budget report on 5 December 2005, including revised rates and levels of relief. The Government are aiming to publish draft legislation as soon as is possible, so as to provide the UK film industry with certainty on the further details of the new incentives. Full legislation will appear in Finance Bill 2006.

Freedom of Information Act

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total sum has been received by his Department for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in its first year of operation.

John Healey: The Treasury has not received any monies for the provision of information under the FOI Act in its first year of operation.

Insurance Premium Tax

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reform the insurance premium tax.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave him on 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1908W.

Intrastat

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purpose HM Revenue and Customs collects statistics on behalf of Intrastat on the weight of goods imported from other EU member states; and what assessment he has made of the cost to businesses of collating this information.

Ivan Lewis: All member states have a legal requirement to collect Intrastat statistics on the weight of goods imported from other EU countries. These statistics are used by the European Union, the UK Government and private sector for economic monitoring and informing business decisions. This information is also used by HM Revenue and Customs to assure the Intrastat information provided. The cost to businesses of collating this information cannot be identified separately from the costs calculated for Intrastat information in totality. From 1 January 2006 member states may decide to remove the need for 'net mass' information where the 'supplementary unit' is required. A third of all commodity codes are included in this simplification which HM Revenue and Customs is implementing in the UK.

Intrastat

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance HM Revenue and Customs gives to businesses that are required to complete the Instrastat statistical returns.

Ivan Lewis: HM Revenue and Customs provides an Intrastat Education Pack for all businesses required to complete Intrastat returns. Included in this pack is a copy of Notice 60—The Intrastat General Guide. Additional information is also available from their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com) as well as a telephone help-line (Tel: 01702 366493) and e-mail inquiry address (uktradeinfo@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk).

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's most recent estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of combat operations in Iraq in each month since the start of the conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 26 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2260–61W.

Job Statistics (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) private sector jobs in (i) manufacturing and (ii) the service sector and (b) public sector jobs therewere in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about private and public sector employment in Tamworth. I am replying in her absence. (48661)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for the United Kingdom of public sector employment from a quarterly survey of public sector organisations. However, estimates at local area level are not available.
	Information at local area level is only available from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS)/Annual Population Survey (APS) of individual people in households. However, in this source, the categorisation of employment in the public or private sector depends upon the responses from the individuals interviewed. As reported by ONS in October 2005 in the publication Public Sector Employment Trends" some individuals tend to misreport private sector employment as being in the public sector hence leading to overestimates of the share of public sector employment.
	With this reservation about the data quality, the attached table shows the number of persons in private sector and public sector employment, for people resident in the Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency as shown by the annual local area LFS for the 12 month periods ending February 1999 to February 2004, and from the APS for the 12 months ending December 2004. Estimates are not available for 1997.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	
		Persons in employment resident in the Tamworth parliamentary constituency by private-public sector split(24)
		
			 Thousands 
			 12 months ending Private sector Public sector Total 
			  Manufacturing Services Other industries(25)   
		
		
			 February 1999 14 23 4 7 47 
			 February 2000 15 25 5 5 49 
			 February 2001 15 21 5 8 50 
			 February 2002 13 26 3 7 50 
			 February 2003 13 28 3 6 50 
			 February 2004 11 22 4 9 46 
			 December 2004 11 24 5 8 48 
		
	
	(24) Public/private sector split based on responses from individuals responding to the annual local area Labour Force Survey. This generally results in overestimates of public sector employment.
	(25) Other industries are Agriculture, Fishing, Energy and Water and Construction.
	Note:
	Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.

National Census

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been made about the last national census; how many of those complaints have been upheld; and what action has been taken to address them.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question about how many complaints have been made about the 2001 Census, how many of those have been upheld and what action has been taken to address them. I am replying in her absence. (48883)
	In responding to your question we haw interpreted complaints to mean all correspondence that has been received expressing concern either about the 2001 Census population estimates for England and Wales or the 2001 Mid Year Population Estimates (MYEs) for England and Wales which are based upon the 2001 Census. We have not included issues or complaints raised in the run up to the 2001 Census on questionnaire content and other logistical matters in carrying out a Census.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has received letters of concern regarding 48, out of the total of 376, Local Authorities in England and Wales.
	Following the 2001 Census ONS undertook an extensive programme of work to establish the reasons for the difference between the 2001 Census and the MYEs at both a national and local level. This research included a series of Local Authority studies carried out in 2004 which were designed to improve the MYEs in the areas that proved hardest to count in the 2001 Census in England and Wales. The results of these studies showed that better estimates of the population could be made in 15 areas and an adjustment was made to the MYEs in these areas. For the great majority of areas the 2001 Census based population estimate remains the best estimate of the population. A full report on these Local Authority Studies can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_FullReport.pdf
	Of the 48 Local Authorities where concern was expressed about the 2001 Census, there were 10 cases-where an adjustment was made to the 2001 based MYEs.
	In addition to the 2004 Local Authority Studies, ONS is now investing substantially in a project to Improve Migration and Population Statistics (IMPS). Further information on this project can be found at: www.statistics.gov.uk/IMPS .
	The key aim of this project is to reduce the size of the difference between population estimates and mid-year estimates for 2011 when the next Census is undertaken and to better understand any difference that does remain.
	The IMPS project is allowing ONS to investigate possible ways to improve the accuracy of the population estimates and to establish where it is possible to introduce changes to data sources and methods that will improve the quality of the statistics. This work includes an evaluation of administrative data sources that might inform the population estimates process and further case studies with a small number of Local Authorities.

Public Sector Accounts

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the changes made to the definitions of capitalspending in the Public Sector Accounts since May 2001.

Des Browne: There have been none.

Royal Mint

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff the Royal Mint employs in (a) London, (b) each region of England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; how much the Royal Mint paid (i) in rates and (ii) in other accommodation costs in each location in 2004–05; what the total administration costs were in each location in 2004–05; and how much funding the Royal Mint received from the Government for 2005–06.

John Healey: In 2004–05, the Royal Mint employed, on average, 991 staff. Until August 2004, one employee was located in London. Since then, all members of staff have been employed in Wales.
	The Royal Mint paid £452,000 in rates to the local Council. The total of accommodation costs and administrative costs in 2004–05 (excluding costs directly attributable to factory activities but including rates) is captured as Common Costs in the Annual Report which are equal to £7.145 million. Due to commercial sensitivity, the Royal Mint cannot provide a more detailed breakdown.
	The Royal Mint has not received any funding from Government in this financial year (2005–06).

Small Business Relief Scheme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses have applied for the small business relief scheme in each of the last five years; how many were eligible in each year; and how many of those were successful in each year.

John Healey: The small business rate relief scheme came into effect from 1 April 2005. Applications for small business rate relief may be made up to six months after the end of the financial year to which the application relates, or six months from notification of an alteration to a rateable value that makes the hereditament eligible for relief. Information is not held centrally on the number of businesses that applied for and were granted relief in 2005–06.

Special Reserve

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when each payment (a) into and (b) out of the special reserve was made in each year since 2000; what each payment was for; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Allocations to the special reserve are announced and recorded in Budgets and pre-Budget reports. The 2002 pre-Budget report made a special contingency allocation of £1 billion, increased to £3 billion in Budget 2003. In the 2003 pre-Budget report the Government announced that the remaining £2 billion of this special reserve would be carried forward to 2003–04. A further £500 million was set aside for the financial year 2003–04 and a further £820 million for 2004–05 as a prudent allowance for continuing spending on Iraq, Afghanistan and our other international commitments. In Budget 2005, a further £340 million was added to the special reserve for 2004–05 and £400 million for the special reserve in 2005–06. The 2005 pre-Budget report allocated a further £580 million to the special reserve in 2005–06. Costs and provision will continue to be reviewed at Budgets and pre-Budget reports.
	The reserves, including the special reserve, are managed together as a mechanism for future budgetary planning, rather than to account for past expenditure. Past expenditure is accounted for through outturn information provided in Departmental accounts, which do not discriminate between spending provided for in Departmental spending review settlements and spending provided for from the reserves.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment the Government have made of the merits of introducing a sunset clause for the new spirit labelling scheme;
	(2)  what the estimated total costs are of implementing the Government's proposed spirit label stamp scheme; and for what reasons these costs have not been set out in the regulatory impact assessment.

John Healey: Spirits fraud continues to be a significant problem, and the Duty Stamps scheme is central to the Government's strategy for tackling it. Duty stamps remain a proportionate response to the problem. Since the original regulatory impact assessment was published in April 2004, industry compliance costs have been reduced from £23 million set-up costs and £54 million per annum ongoing costs to £6 million set-up costs and £4 million per annum ongoing costs. These revised costs were published in an update to the original regulatory impact assessment, which was laid before the House on 9 January 2006 alongside the Duty Stamps (Amendment of paragraph 1 (3) of Schedule 2A to the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979) Order 2006. The Government have allocated £36 million over a three-year period to HM Revenue and Customs to implement its enhanced alcohol strategy, which includes the duty stamps scheme. These costs were included in the explanatory memorandum which was also laid alongside the order.
	With the cooperation of the UK spirits industry, the duty stamps scheme remains on course to be implemented in full during 2006–07. The scheme will, in due course, be the subject of a post-implementation review and a review of the regulatory impact assessment.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the spirit fraud seizures and detections during the last 12 months which involved revenue evasions in excess of £1 million.

John Healey: HMRC made no confirmed spirits fraud detections involving revenue in excess of £1 million during the past 12 months. Individual freight seizures of illicit spirits are unlikely ever to exceed £150,000 in revenue value, as a 40' container or trailer will normally hold a maximum of 14,000 litres (1,500 cases) of product.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what share of the UK spirit market will be exempt from the spirit label stamp scheme because it falls below the 30 per cent. alcohol by volume threshold.

John Healey: About 14 per cent. according to figures provided by the spirits industry, during consultations on the duty stamps scheme.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many entities outside the UK have registered for spirit label stamps; what estimate he has made of the number of stamps which HM Revenue and Customs will distribute to non-UK entities; what steps the Government are taking to ensure the credentials of those applying for stamps abroad; and whether HM Revenue and Customs will police the application and use of stamps overseas.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs have so far received 37 applications for registration for duty stamps from businesses outside the UK. All applications are closely scrutinised to ensure that applicants are eligible to be registered for the scheme. For businesses outside the UK, based in the European Union only approved excise warehousekeepers, whose details are confirmed by the other member states' authorities can apply for registration. For businesses outside the European Union, only those in very specific trade categories are eligible to register.
	Registered businesses can make commercial choices as to whether to incorporate the duty stamp into bottle labels or to affix freestanding stamps distributed by HM
	Revenue and Customs' contractor. For imported spirits, the stamps can be applied outside the UK or in the UK once imported. The number of freestanding stamps distributed to non-UK entities is dependent on these commercial choices and is not possible to estimate at this stage.
	For registered businesses based outside the European Union, HM Revenue and Customs will exercise control over goods as they enter and within the UK and can seek targeted assistance from the authorities of other countries under long-standing agreements between World Customs Organisation members. For businesses based in other member states of the EU, existing arrangements for mutual assistance between fiscal authorities will be used.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the scope for worldwide (a) theft and (b) counterfeiting of UK duty stamps once the spirit label stamp scheme is introduced;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to ensure that the spirit label stamp scheme will not be undermined by the use of stolen or fake stamps.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs assess that the risk from theft of duty stamps is low. Businesses using duty stamps are required to keep a record of stamps obtained and used and to report any theft of stamps to HM Revenue and Customs.
	HM Revenue and Customs have utilised state of the art security print technology in the design of the freestanding duty stamp, which will make successful counterfeiting difficult and expensive.
	So far as duty stamps incorporated within bottle labels are concerned, one of the factors that the Government took into account before deciding to permit label stamps was their potential effect on counterfeiting. As industry representatives pointed out when advocating label stamps, they make counterfeiting a less viable proposition than would have been the case with traditional strip stamps, since fraudsters would need to obtain not only the label stamps but also bottles of spirits without labels. Alternatively, fraudsters would have to incur the cost of removing any existing labels before being able to use counterfeit label stamps.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the reasons for the level of spirit fraud (a) seizure, (b) detection and (c) prosecution rates.

John Healey: Details of illicit spirits seized and prosecutions for spirits offences are contained in the HMRC annual report for 2004–05 published in December 2005.
	Individual output measures relating to selected elements of HMRC's activity to tackle spirits fraud cannot be taken as a proxy measure of impact.
	More important than such activity indicators are the figures published alongside the pre-budget report in December 2005 which show that the Government have succeeded in reducing the UK illicit spirits market from 9 per cent. in 2001–02 to 7 per cent. in 2003–04.
	The Government announced an enhanced strategic approach to tackling alcohol fraud in its 2004 pre-budget report, setting HMRC the tough target of reducing spirits fraud by half by 2008.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department calculates spirit fraud VAT losses within total revenue loss estimates; and whether it is assumed that all illicit bottles pay no VAT as well as no excise duty.

John Healey: For the purposes of its revenue loss estimates, HMRC makes the cautious assumption that illicit bottles of spirits pay no UK VAT as well as no UK excise duty. An average rate of VAT loss in pounds per litre of spirits sold in the UK is derived from data provided by market research organisations. This rate is subsequently multiplied by the amount of the estimated illicit volume in order to obtain the total VAT loss.
	The approaches used for measuring VAT losses are outlined in the HMCE report: Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—November 2002". This can be accessed through the following link: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/389/E5/admeas02–297kb.pdf.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence the Government have collected to support their estimates of the scale of spirit fraud.

John Healey: The methodology used to estimate the scale of spirits fraud was subject to an independent review by the Office for National Statistics, the details of which were published in July 2005. HMRC has made a number of refinements to its approach in response to the findings of the ONS review and these are reflected in the estimates published alongside the 2005 pre-Budget report. HMRC's operational activity and intelligence supports our understanding that spirits fraud continues to be a major threat.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the value of revenue losses caused by spirit fraud; and what the statistical lower bound estimate is for spirit fraud.

John Healey: The most recent estimates of the value of revenue losses caused by spirits fraud, and associated margins of error, are set out in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses"—2005 published alongside the pre-Budget report in December 2005.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the Office of National Statistics' review of spirits fraud published on 21 July 2005; and whether he has accepted its conclusions in respect of previous Government estimates of revenue evasion.

John Healey: The Department welcomes the report. Following detailed assessment of the report, the Department has adopted a number of refinements to the method for estimating the level of revenue losses attributable to spirits fraud. These are set out in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses"—2005, published alongside the 2005 pre-Budget report.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of introducing a spirit label stamp scheme on illegal spirit sales;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the reduction in spirit fraud which will result from Government plans to introduce a label stamp scheme.

John Healey: Duty stamps for spirits were announced at Budget 2004 as part of a package of measures for tackling the revenue lost through spirits excise duty fraud. The scheme complements and supports the other strands of the strategy such as Memoranda of Understanding with the spirits industry and enhanced operational activity. These measures were introduced to halve the level of spirits fraud by 2007–08.
	The projected revenue benefit of the alcohol strategy as a whole is £85 million. However, it is not possible to estimate the revenue benefit of each individual strand of the strategy, as it is the combination of the whole package that determines the total effect.

Suicides

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides were committed by people aged 14 to 25 years in each region in the last three years, broken down by sex; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many suicides were committed by people aged 14 to 25 years in each region in the last three years, broken down by sex. I am replying in her absence. (48376)
	In routine statistics, ONS defines suicides as deaths from both intentional self-harm and 'injury of undetermined intent'. The most recent available figures are for the calendar year 2004. The figures in the table below show the number of deaths from intentional self harm and injury of undetermined intent by sex among those aged 14 to 25 for the calendar years 2002 to 2004.
	
		Number of deaths among people aged 14 to 25 years from intentional self harm(26)and injury of undetermined intent(27), by sex for government office regions(28) in England and Wales, 2002 to 2004(29)
		
			 Government Office Region 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Males
			 North East 27 23 29 
			 North West 51 59 57 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 27 28 35 
			 East Midlands 34 37 30 
			 West Midlands 46 35 37 
			 East of England 39 42 31 
			 London 54 58 48 
			 South East 48 67 46 
			 South West 36 35 34 
			 Wales 37 44 26 
			 Females
			 North East 5 6 6 
			 North West 14 10 17 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 10 8 10 
			 East Midlands 13 11 12 
			 West Midlands 8 9 11 
			 East of England 10 8 24 
			 London 19 14 15 
			 South East 21 18 18 
			 South West 9 4 11 
			 Wales 6 9 4 
		
	
	(26) The cause of death for intentional self harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84.
	(27) The cause of death for injury of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) cades Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. It is assumed likely that most of these deaths are cases where the harm is self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves.
	Deaths were selected using final underlying cause of death.
	(28) Usual residents of these areas.
	(29) Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Tax Credits

John Randall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in Uxbridge constituency since the scheme began, broken down by those who were (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Dorries) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 321W.

Tax Credits

Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in St Albans constituency since the scheme began, broken down by those who were (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Domes) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 321W.

Transport

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of total projected public expenditure on transport in each year from 2006 to 2015.

Des Browne: The Government are committed to providing significant resources to maintain and modernise the transport network. Spending Review 2004 set out estimates of UK public expenditure on transport of £20.1 billion for 2006–07 and £19.3 billion for 2007–08. These totals included £13.6 billion and £12.9 billion allocated to the Department for Transport for 2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively. The remainder in each year is estimated expenditure by local authorities and the devolved Administrations. Actual local and devolved transport expenditure will be made according to their own spending decisions.
	Over the period 2008–09 to 2014–15, a Long Term Funding Guideline has been agreed with the Department for Transport to provide a stable financial framework within which to plan transport improvements. This guideline is set out in The Future of Transport: A network for 2030," published by the Department for Transport in July 2004. This guideline does not include projections of future expenditure on transport by local authorities and the devolved Administrations, which they will determine according to their own spending priorities.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 354W, on the Valuation Office Agency, what plans the Government have to use (a) computer assisted mass appraisal and (b) the automated valuation model for the next scheduled business rates revaluation.

Ivan Lewis: The Valuation Office Agency is considering setting up a feasibility study into whether the automated valuation model might be used to support some elements of the next business rates revaluation in 2010.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, columns 529–30W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether HM Revenue and Customs staff have access to the information and data collected for council tax valuation purposes for its general use in collecting taxes; and what guidelines apply to the use of that data.

Ivan Lewis: The use of information by HMRC is governed by sections 17 to 21 of The Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.
	The use of information and data collected for council tax valuation purposes is covered under the general guidance on the use of information within HMRC, and all HMRC staff are bound by strict confidentiality safeguards which protect HMRC information from being misused.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Aid (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the availability of civil legal aid to people living in Tamworth constituency.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission contracts with service providers throughout England and Wales to provide a range of legal and advice services across different categories of law.
	There are currently three service providers with a contract to undertake civil legal aid work in Tamworth. Service providers in Tamworth may help people who live outside the area, and people who live in Tamworth may visit a service provider in a different area.
	Any person residing in England or Wales can access free quality legal advice and information through Community Legal Service Direct. This service is available direct to the public through a telephone line, website and information leaflets.

Public Defender Service

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Government have to extend the Public Defender Service.

Bridget Prentice: The operation of the Public Defender Service will be reviewed in light of the independent research into the pilot which is expected to be published shortly.

Public Defender Service

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what comparison the Government have made of the costs of the Public Defender Service and those of legal aid-funded solicitors.

Bridget Prentice: The independent research that has been commissioned to report on the Public Defender Service will compare and analyse the costs of the Public Defender Service with those of private practitioners specialising in criminal legal aid work. It is expected that the research will be published shortly.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academies

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils at each academy achieved (a) five A* to C GCSE grades or equivalent, (b) five A* to C GCSE grades and (c) five A* to C GCSE grades in English and Mathematics in 2005; and what the equivalent figures were for the predecessor school of each academy in its last year of operation.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 January 2006
	The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  2005(30) 
			 Academy Number of 15-year-old pupils(31) % achieving 5+A*-C GCSE and equivalents % achieving 5+A*-C GCSE only % achieving A*-C in English and mathematics 
		
		
			 The Business Academy Bexley 123 29 12 17 
			 Greig City Academy.Haringey 132 54 13 10 
			 Unity City Academy 203 16 4 6 
			 Capital City Academy 127 17 17 14 
			 The City Academy Bristol 170 52 23 19 
			 West London Academy 111 28 14 11 
			 Manchester Academy 114 25 15 12 
			 The King's Academy 182 43 29 24 
			 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham 237 57 18 18 
			 The Academy at Peckham 164 22 22 20 
			 Walsall Academy 57 67 7 21 
			 London Academy 170 48 35 24 
			 Stockley Academy 98 19 8 13 
			 Northampton Academy 198 34 28 18 
		
	
	(30) Figures from 2003/04 includes GCSEs and a range of equivalent qualifications approved pre-16. Figures for earlier years includes GCSE/GNVQ only.
	(31) Age at the start of academic year i.e. 31 August.
	
		
			 Predecessor schools Last year of operation(32) Number of 15-year-old pupils(33) % achieving 5+A*-C GCSE and equivalents %achieving 5+A*-C GCSE only % achieving A*-C in English and mathematics 
		
		
			 Thamesmead Community College 2002 100 6 6 5 
			 St. David and St. Katherine CofE 2002 147 26 24 19 
			 Keldholme 2002 112 21 3 10 
			 Langbaurgh 2002 73 11 10 8 
			 Willesden High School 2003 156 7 5 6 
			 St. George Community Centre 2003 186 25 13 9 
			 Compton Sports College 2003 142 37 21 15 
			 Ducie High School 2003 130 12 11 8 
			 Coulby Newham School 2003 135 28 24 19 
			 Brackenhoe 2003 110 15 14 12 
			 Djanogly CTC 2003 171 60 30 27 
			 Forest School 2002 82 20 18 80 
			 Warwick Park School 2003 167 16 14 11 
			 TP Riley School 2003 83 49 1 7 
			 Edgware School 2004 213 32 32 21 
			 Evelyns Community School 2004 126 17 13 13 
			 Lings Upper School 2004 214 30 25 14 
		
	
	(32) Figures for 2004/05 are revised. Figures for earlier years are final.
	(33) Age at the start of academic year i.e. 31 August
	City of London, Lambeth and Mossboume Academies did not have any pupils taking GCSEs and are omitted from the table.

Civil Servants (Overseas Visits)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what costs were incurred by her Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is set out in the following table. The figures are taken from the Department's financial systems for the years in question. The figures include overseas visits by Ministers who are not classified as civil servants and could be separated only at disproportional cost. All travel by civil servants complied with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
	
		Expenditure on overseas visits
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 883 
			 1997–98 663 
			 1998–99 773 
			 1999–2000 789 
			 2000–01 832 
			 2001–02 506 
			 2002–03 243 
			 2003–04 218 
			 2004–05 180 
		
	
	These figures reflect the Department as constituted at the time the accounts were produced and so are not adjusted for Machinery of Government changes. Figures before 1996–97 are not available.

Colleges (Suspended Accreditation)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether students who are enrolled on and have paid fees for courses for which colleges have had their accreditation suspended (a) are still able to qualify through external assessment and (b) are entitled to have their fees refunded.

Phil Hope: In these circumstances, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) would expect colleges to make alternative arrangements for the learners, either by offering alternative qualifications accredited with another awarding body or by arranging for an alternative college with the relevant accreditation to take over the provision to these learners.
	Depending on the alternative educational arrangements, as set out above, for the learner to gain their qualification the college would be expected to consider whether a fee refund was appropriate for the learner. The LSC would expect colleges to consider, sympathetically, learner requests for fee refunds where they were not satisfied with the alternatives being offered. If the course fee included an element of examination fee then that should be refunded.

Colleges (Suspended Accreditation)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many further education colleges have had NVQ accreditation status removed or suspended by the City and Guilds in the last 12 months; and what the NVQ subject areas were.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for City and Guilds of London Institute. I understand that Chris Humphries, Director General at City and Guilds of London Institute, has corresponded on this matter with the hon. Member.

Colleges (Suspended Accreditation)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether further education colleges are allowed to (a) advertise and promote and (b) enrol students onto courses for which their NVQ accreditation has been suspended.

Phil Hope: The Government would not expect any college to enrol any new learners onto any programme for which their accreditation had been lost or suspended. We would also not expect advertising or promotion of such courses.

Consultants

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many consultants have been engaged by her Department since March 2005; and at what cost.

Bill Rammell: pursuant to the reply, 26 January 2006, Official Report, c. 228W
	I am providing an amended response. The Department for Education and Skills spent £2.2 million from administration costs and £7.4 million from programme expenditure on consultants since March 2005 to date (April—December 2005–06 accounting period).

Criminal Record Checks

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the number of requests for enhanced disclosures that will be generated as a result of making Criminal Records Bureau checks mandatory for all new appointments of school staff.

Ruth Kelly: These new arrangements will generate demand for additional checks on top of the existing annual total of 2.9 million checks. However, making CRB checks mandatory which were previously strongly advised in guidance should not, in itself, lead to a significant increase in the number of requests for checks and on this basis the CRB is confident that it will be able to cope with the change without any reduction in its standards. We will work with them as they continue to monitor the situation.

Criminal Record Checks

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out a timetable for (a) laying the regulations and (b) implementing the regulation to make it a mandatory requirement for Criminal Record Bureau checks on all new school staff.

Ruth Kelly: Work is currently in hand to make on-appointment CRB checks compulsory for all new appointments to the schools work force and to introduce a parallel requirement that all supply agencies have a CRB disclosure for all staff who work in schools. In the meantime, I have written to all schools setting out how the checking system will work so that heads are clear about their responsibilities.

Dedicated Choice Advisers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which organisation will employ the dedicated choice advisers referred to on page eight of the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All.

Jacqui Smith: Choice advisers may be employed by schools, local authorities or voluntary and community sector organisations.

Education Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the average total cost to public funds of educating a pupil (a) from primary school to age 16 and (b) from primary school to and through university; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information is as follows.
	(a) The estimated average cost of educating a pupil from primary school to age 16 is £55,000.
	(b) It is not possible to produce a reasonable estimate of the average total cost of educating a pupil from primary school to and through university because the length of further and higher education courses varies considerably. However annual unit cost figures can be estimated and are produced in this year's departmental annual report. These show that the average annual cost of funding a further education place is £5,410, while the cost of funding a higher education place is £4,630.
	Notes:
	1. The cost of educating a pupil to age 16 has been calculated as follows. Per pupil funding figure for 3 to 10-year-olds in England in 2005–06 have been multiplied by eight (for the eight years of funding a child would receive between the age of three and 10) and by five for age 11 to 15. These are then summed together to give the total cost of educating a pupil to 16.
	2. All figures in 2005–06 prices. As a result, HE figures quoted differ from those quoted in the departmental annual report.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three to 15 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.
	5. Figures are based on eight years of funding for pupils aged three to 10 and five years of funding for pupils aged 11 to 15.

Examination Results

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1326W, on vocational qualifications, how many 15-year-olds achieved five or more A* to C grades at GCSE or equivalent including a full intermediate GNVQ (a) as a proportion of all 15-year-olds and (b) as a proportion of all 15-year-olds who achieved five or more A* to C grades at GCSE or equivalent.

Jacqui Smith: Out of the 636,796 15-year-old 1 pupils on roll in 2005 7.8 per cent. achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent including a full intermediate GNVQ. Of the 358,413 pupils who achieved any five A*-C grades in 2005,13.9 per cent. achieved this level including a full intermediate GNVQ.
	Of course, these pupils may still have achieved this level even if they had not taken the GNVQ.
	1 Age at the beginning of the academic year (i.e. 31 August).

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individuals have startedforensic science-related National Vocational Qualifications since 1997; and what percentage have completed the course.

Bill Rammell: Two NVQs for Forensic Science" at Levels 4 and 5 were accredited by QCA in January 1998, expired on 30 June 2000 and reached their certification end date on 30 June 2003. Information is not collected on how many learners started NVQs—however, no certificates were awarded for either of these qualifications.

General Teaching Council

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many disciplinary cases were heard bythe General Teaching Council in each year since 2000;
	(2)  what the average period between referral to the General Teaching Council and a disciplinary hearing taking place was in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many teachers were referred for disciplinary action before the General Teaching Council in each year since 2000.

Jacqui Smith: According to information provided by the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) 161 teachers were referred to the Council for disciplinary action in 2001–02. This figure rose to: 217 in 2002–03, 267 in 2003–04 and 322 in 2004–05. For 2005 to date there have been 265 referrals.
	These figures relate to the receipt of all referrals made to the Council. The Council has the power to take disciplinary action on teacher incompetence, and on cases of teacher misconduct which do not relate to child protection.
	Cases are scrutinised by the Council's Investigating Committee before being recommended for a full formal hearing before a professional conduct or professional competence committee. Based on the latest information available from the Council, the number of full hearings dealt with by these committees is set out in the table:
	
		
			  Number of hearings 
		
		
			 2001–02 (34)3 
			 2002–03 20 
			 2003–04 43 
			 2004–05 40 
			 2005–31 January 2006 53 
		
	
	(34) The first regulatory hearing of the Council was convened in January 2002
	The GTCE does not hold the data about the average period between referral of a case to the Council and a disciplinary hearing taking place in a readily accessible form. However, the Council estimates that the average waiting period is currently around 12 months.

Head Teachers

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers school governors have to regulate head teachers' (a) work-life balance and (b) holiday periods.

Jacqui Smith: Governing bodies have a statutory duty, in their management of the head teacher, to have regard to his/her work-life balance. Members of the leadership group, as well as some other teachers, are not subject to the working time provisions which apply to full-time classroom teachers through the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, and it is for governing bodies to establish their expectations regarding holiday periods, having regard to the general duties required of different classes of teacher.

Head Teachers

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to ensure that the regulation of head teachers' work-life balance by school governors is applied consistently.

Jacqui Smith: Following on from my previous response to the hon. Member today, the issue of regulating the work-life balance of head teachers falls to the governing body who would be expected to agree suitable arrangements with the head. With over 20,000 schools across the country there will of course be a range of differing measures and practices adopted by schools, head teachers and governing bodies to ensure that the work-life balance of their head teachers is appropriately agreed and addressed. We are confident in the professionalism of our head teachers and in the skills and judgment of school governors across the country. We would expect that they will work collaboratively to ensure that the work-life balance of the head and indeed the whole school workforce is addressed accordingly.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Bill Rammell: The Department celebrates a range of diversity events and publicise them to staff via personal invites on the Department's intranet system. Some events are generated by staff themselves. In 2005 we have provided, ongoing mandatory, cultural awareness training events for staff, which cover issues on religion and belief and highlight legislation.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she plans to take to increase the uptake of educational opportunities and skills learning in the prison estate; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: We are introducing a new offender learning and skills service that is more learner-centred and flexible, with better links between education and vocational training. This is intended to motivate more offenders in custody to address their learning and skills needs. The new service is already being delivered by the Learning and Skills Council in three development regions and will be rolled out in the remaining six English regions from 31 July 2006.
	Looking further ahead, the Government have set out a strategy to improve the skills and job prospects for offenders in the Green Paper Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment", published on 15 December. The document was published jointly on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions. We have now embarked on an extensive period of consultation, running until the end of May, during which we welcome a full range of views.

Private Tutors

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is proposing to ensure the safety of children taught by private tutors.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 24 January 2006
	Where an individual is barred from working with children under section 142 of the Education Act 2002 on the grounds that he or she is unsuitable to work with children", it is a criminal offence to work or seek work in any position that includes training or being in sole charge of a child or children. A person guilty of this offence is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for up to six months and/or a fine and, on indictment, to imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine.
	The Department would strongly advise parents to verify the credentials of any person employed to provide private tuition for a child, particularly if that person is likely to be alone with the child at any time. For example, parents could ask prospective tutors for references from a recent employer.
	The Department is fully aware that parents currently have limited access to information. The new scheme to be implemented as part of the Bichard Inquiry Recommendations will allow parents to access relevant information on people they wish to employ as home tutors.
	I made clear in my statement to the House on 12 January, we are committed to implementing Sir Michael Bichard's recommendations to tighten the system of vetting and barring people who wish to work with children and that will entail the ability for parents to check whether tutors, nannies, and other individuals whom they employ, are barred or disqualified.

School Attendance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2286W, on fast track to attendance, if she will revise the 2003 guidance Ensuring School Attendance to include joint assessment and support working between Children's and Adult Services.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 6 February 2006
	A general duty is placed on local authorities by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under 18 who are in need by providing a range of services appropriate to meeting those needs. Assessments undertaken by local authorities of children should focus on the needs of the child, the capacity of the parents and wider environmental factors.
	Ensuring Regular School Attendance: Guidance on the Legal Measures available to Secure Regular School Attendance" is a short document the purpose of which is to give an overview of the various legal measures available. This guidance refers to the importance of investigating the underlying causes of poor attendance and to joined-up working between agencies but it is not a suitable vehicle for setting out case working procedures in more detail.
	My Department issued Effective Attendance advice last year to local authorities and to schools. It stressed the need for all parts of local authorities to be co-ordinated to identify and meet the needs of vulnerable children and families. It highlighted the need for schools to have support systems in place for vulnerable pupils, including young carers. It also emphasised multi-agency support meetings to agree appropriate action. In addition guidance (available since 1999) on Managing Behaviour and Attendance: Groups at Particular Risk" highlights the particular needs of young carers.

Truancy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the 10 schools in each local education authority with the highest rates of truancy.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect figures on truancy. However school level information on unauthorised 1 absence (of which truancy forms a part) can be found in the 2005 Achievement and Attainment Tables website, primary schools can be found at the following address: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables/primary_05.shtml and secondary schools at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables/schools_05.shtml.
	1 Unauthorised absence includes other forms of absence such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy. Truancy forms only one part of the unauthorised figures.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Design for Manufacture

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 253W, on Design for Manufacture, how many and what proportion of homes in each development will be sold at market rates; and how many will be available for (a) affordable rent and (b) shared equity.

Yvette Cooper: At this stage of the competition the actual numbers of affordable rent and shared equity homes that will be provided under Design for Manufacture are still subject to detailed negotiation between English Partnerships, developers and local authorities. Across the 10 sites it is anticipated that about 30 per cent. of all the homes will be affordable homes.
	Provisional estimates of the total number of homes intended to be affordable on each site to date are listed as follows. However, English Partnerships are also in the process of negotiating the shared equity allocations, which may change these numbers:
	Oxley Park, Milton Keynes, Phase 2 site, total number homes 145, of which 43 homes, or 30 per cent., will be affordable
	Oxford Road, Former TA Centre, Aylesbury Vale, total number of homes 100, of which 30 homes, or 30 per cent., will be affordable
	Upton, Northampton, Site D2, total number of homes 165, of which 36, or 22 per cent., will be affordable
	Allerton Bywater Millennium Community, Leeds, Yorkshire, total homes 150, of which 30, or 20 per cent., will be affordable
	School Road, Hastings, total homes 12—number of affordable homes to be determined
	Horns Cross, Stone, Dartford, total homes 37, of which 11, or 30 per cent., will be affordable
	Former Rowan High School site, Merton, London, total homes 210 of which up to 63, or 30 per cent., will be affordable (these figures update the estimated figures given to the hon. Member on 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1689W
	Former Renny Lodge Hospital, London Road, Newport Pagnell, Bucks, total homes 60, of which 20, or 33% per cent., will be affordable
	Former Park Prewett Hospital, Kingsclere Rd, Basingstoke, total homes 137, of which 47, or 34 per cent., will be affordable
	Former Linton Hospital site, Maidstone, total homes 123, of which 43, or 35 per cent., will be affordable.

Fire Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 202W, on fire services, what assessment the Government have made of the expenditure by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority on thefire control centre for London; and whether the Government made any additional payment to the Authority to finance the cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no specific assessment of the expenditure by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) on the current London regional fire control centre. The ODPM has received 10 year expenditure forecasts from all 46 fire and rescue authorities in England (including London) for the costs of operating their control centres, which informs the business case for the FiReControl project. No additional payments were made by ODPM to finance the costs of the current London control centre.

Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is his policy to encourage the housing market renewal pathfinders in England to form themselves into limited companies; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Housing market renewal pathfinders are non-statutory partnerships and it is for each partnership to decide the governance arrangements which are best for its circumstances. There is therefore a variety of governance arrangements for pathfinders with which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been content to enter into funding agreements. At present these include one company limited by guarantee, for Elevate East Lancashire.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many full-time equivalent staff worked within section LGF 3G—Council Tax Revaluation and Balance of Funding Review Analysis Branch in each year since its creation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Two full-time equivalent staff worked within section LGF 3G—Council Tax Revaluation and Balance of Funding Review Analysis Branch—from its creation in September 2003 until the conclusion of the Balance of Funding review.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what work his Department's Local Government Finance Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics has conducted on council tax revaluation in (a) England and (b) Wales;
	(2)  whether his Department has a Local Government Finance Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics.

Phil Woolas: The Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics (WGLGFS) discussed council tax revaluation twice at recent meetings.
	At the meeting held on 26 January 2005, a paper was presented by a representative of the Welsh Assembly Government on Revaluation of council tax in Wales".
	At the meeting held on 20 July 2005 an oral report was presented on Data and timing issues associated with Council Tax revaluation and the Lyons Inquiry".
	Papers and minutes of these meetings are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at:
	http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/wglfs/index.htm .

Local Government Finance

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors explain the reduction in the final financial settlement for 2006–07 to Worcestershire county council from the provisional figures; and what the percentage increase is between (a) 2005–06 and 2006–07 and (b) 2006–07 and 2007–08 for non-education services.

Phil Woolas: There are a number of factors which explain the reduction of £19,692, or 0.03 per cent., in formula grant for Worcestershire county council between consultation and settlement. These are described briefly as follows:
	(a) A 0.1 per cent. decrease in the 2005–06 Adjusted Local Education Authority Central Functions Formula Spending Share. This was due mainly to a downward revision of the control total for this service block which affected all relevant authorities. A smaller downward revision was also made to the teachers pay grant adjustment for Worcestershire.
	(b) A further transfer of £12.269 million for the WEEE directive was added into the 2006–07 formula grant between Consultation and Settlement. In order to ensure a like-for-like comparison between 2005–06 and 2006–07, an adjustment of £11.974 million was made to the County-Level Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services Formula Spending Share in 2005–06. This led to a 0.3 per cent. increase for all authorities.
	(c) A 0.1 per cent. decrease in the 2005–06 Adjusted Capital Financing Formula Spending Share due to a change in the methodology of adjusting for the Education SCE(R) programme which transferred to capital grant in 2006–07. The SCE(R)'s for Building Schools for the Future were excluded from this adjustment thereby increasing the 2005–06 Adjusted Capital Financing Formula Spending Share for those authorities that received a Building Schools for the Future SCE(R) in 2005–06, and decreasing the 2005–06 Adjusted Capital Financing Formula Spending Share for those authorities that did not receive a Building Schools for the Future SCE(R) in 2005–06, like Worcestershire.
	The combined effect of the adjustments shown in (a) to (c) led to a decrease of £19,307 in the Adjusted Formula Grant for 2005–06.
	(d) The number of pupils aged 3 to 18 increased by 7 pupils for Worcestershire between consultation and settlement due to the inclusion of pupils aged 16 and over on Form 8b. However as these had previously not been included for all authorities, this had a negligible effect on Worcestershire's Local Authority Central Education Functions Relative Need Formula.
	(e) A further transfer of £12.269 million for the WEEE directive was added into formula grant. This increased all upper-tier authorities', including Worcestershire's, County-Level Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services Relative Needs Formula by approximately 0.3 per cent.
	(f) A 0.2 per cent. decrease in Capital Financing Relative Needs Formula. At consultation, the Capital Finance Relative Needs Formula is calculated with provisional SCE(R) data and this is expected to change at settlement. Extra SCE(R)s were included in the calculation of the settlement that were not included at consultation. This results in a lower scaling factor for all authorities i.e. those authorities who see an increase in their SCE(R) allocation take a larger slice of the fixed control total so reducing the Capital Financing Relative Needs Formula for other authorities. Although Worcestershire did receive an increase in SCE(R) allocations at settlement, this increase was not enough to counter the reduction in Relative Needs Formula resulting from the reduced scaling factor.
	(g) The changes to both the Adjusted 2005–06 Formula Grant and the 2006–07 Relative Needs Formulae, led in turn to changes in both the share of taxbase for authorities with education and personal social services responsibilities, and in the split between the Relative Needs Amount, the Relative Resource Amount and the Central Allocation blocks.
	The combined effect of the changes shown in (d) to (g) led to a decrease in formula grant before floor damping of £10,880. The combined effect of the changes shown in (a) to (g) led to a decrease in formula grant after floor damping of £19,692.
	In 2006–07 Worcestershire received an increase in Formula Grant of 3.8 per cent. on a like-for-like basis, after adjusting for changes in funding and function. However, we are also making Amending Reports for both 2004–05 and 2005–06 at the same time as the 2006–07 Settlement. Worcestershire's 2004–05 Amending Report Formula Grant was £1,007,385 less than the 2004–05 Settlement Formula Grant; Worcestershire's 2005–06 Amending Report Formula Grant was £196,583 less than the 2005–06 Settlement Formula Grant. Therefore the net change in Formula Grant for Worcestershire in 2006–07 is 2.0 per cent. Worcestershire is a floor authority: it receives £3,381,779 formula grant from the floor damping mechanism.
	In 2007–08 Worcestershire received an increase in Formula Grant of 2.7 per cent. Again Worcestershire is a floor authority: it receives £2,958,439 formula grant from the floor damping mechanism.

Planning Policy Guidance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what substantive changes to density regulations were introduced by the publication of Planning Policy Guidance 3 in 2000; and if he will make a statement on his proposals for reform of such regulations in the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement 3.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing" (PPG3), published in 2000, introduced the objective into planning for housing policy that development should make the best use of land. It also introduced a policy that local planning authorities should avoid housing developments which make inefficient use of land (those of less than 30 dwellings per hectare net); encourage developments which make more efficient use of land (between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare net); and seek greater intensity of development at places with good public transport accessibility.
	Draft Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing" (PPS3), published for consultation in December 2005, maintains the Government's objective to make the most efficient use of land. It asks local authorities to develop density policies having regard to Annex C of draft PPS3, which sets out indicative density ranges for different types of location, to help local planning authorities develop density policies for their plan area with local stakeholders and local communities. The presumption is that the minimum density of development should be no less than 30 dwellings per hectare.

Regulatory Reform Orders

Mark Prisk: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many regulatory reform orders his Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Department RRO Initial scrutiny start Outcome 
		
		
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Housing: Private sector renewal 13 December 2001 Made 
			 ODPM Business Tenancies (England and Wales) 22 July 2002 Made 
			 ODPM Assured Periodic Tenancies (Rent Increases) 16 October 2002 Made 
			 ODPM Housing Management Agreements 4 November 2002 Made 
			 ODPM Schemes under Section 129 of the Housing Act 1988 (England) 10 March 2003 Made 
			 ODPM Fire Safety 10 May 2004 Made

Social Enterprises

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what additional help he is planning to make available to encourage social enterprises working with local authorities.

Phil Woolas: The Government are preparing an action plan around social enterprise. Building on the many good examples of social enterprises working in partnership with local authorities to deliver local public services such as social housing, leisure services, community transport, regeneration and recycling, we are exploring how to widen the opportunities for the third sector in the delivery of local public services and the community ownership or management of local assets. We are also providing £300 million through a new Local Enterprise Growth Initiative which will provide many organisations and businesses, including social enterprises, with new opportunities for delivering local economic outcomes.

Standards Board

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2239W, on the Standards Board, if he will place in the Library copies of the full text of each judgment.

Phil Woolas: Judgments made in High Court cases are matters for the High Court itself, and not the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Questions about the dissemination of such judgments, including whether they should be placed in the Library of the House, would be for the Lord Chancellor to consider.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the statutory instruments introduced by his Office since 6 May 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has introduced 45 statutory instruments since 6 May 2005. A list containing details of these statutory instruments has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Statutory Instrument 
		
		
			 2005 No. 1451 Housing, England The Housing Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 1509 Housing, England The Residential Property Tribunal (Right to Buy Determinations) Procedure (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 1541 Regulatory Reform, England and Wales The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 1552 Town and Country Planning, England The North Northamptonshire Joint Committee Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 1635 Acquisition of Land, England; Compensation, England The Home Loss Payments (Prescribed Amounts)(England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 1729 Housing, England The Housing Act 2004 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions)(England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 1735 Housing, England The Housing (Right to Buy) (Information to Secure Tenants) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 1736 Housing, England The Housing (Right to Buy) (Prescribed Forms) (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 1903 Pensions, England and Wales The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 1917 Housing, England The Housing (Right of First Refusal) (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 1995 Housing, England The Housing (Right to Buy)(Designated Rural Areas and Designated Regions) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2004 Pensions, England and Wales The Local Government Pension Scheme and Management and Investment of Funds (Amendment) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 2032 Council Tax, England The Council Tax Limitation (England) (Maximum Amounts) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2081 Town and Country Planning The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Commencement No. 5 and Savings) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2085 Town and Country Planning The Town and Country Planning (Isles of Scilly) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2087 Town and Country Planning, England The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2115 Tribunals and Inquiries, England The Town and Country Planning (Major Infrastructure Project Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2005 
			 2005 No. 2416 Local Government, England The Local Authorities (Categorisation) (England) (No. 2) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2518 Housing, England The Liverpool Housing Action Trust (Dissolution) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2572 Urban Development The Thurrock Development Corporation (Planning Functions) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2581 Local Government, England The West Lindsey (Parishes) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2582 Local Government, England The Wellingborough (Parishes) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2721 Urban Development The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (Planning Functions) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2847 Town and Country Planning, Wales The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Commencement No.6, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2863 Housing, England The Social Landlords (Additional Purposes or Objects) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2865 Council Tax, England The Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2866 Council Tax, England The Council Tax (Civil Partners) (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 2876 Housing, England The Housing (Right to Buy) (Prescribed Forms) (Amendment) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 2908 Housing, England The Housing (Right to Buy) (Designated Rural Areas and Designated Regions) (England) (No. 2) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2931 Local Government, England The South Bucks (Parishes) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2935 Town and Country Planning, England The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 2980 Fire and Rescue Services, England; Pensions, England The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 3069 Pensions, England and Wales The Local Government Pension Scheme (Civil Partnership) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 3199 Pensions, England and Wales The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 3208 Housing, England The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 3228 Fire and Rescue Services, England and Scotland; Civil Partnership, England and Scotland The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Civil Partnership Amendments) (England and Scotland) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 3307 Housing, England The Approval of Code of Management Practice (Private Retirement Housing) (England) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 3323 Housing, England The Housing Renewal Grants (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 3326 Housing, England The Housing Renewal Grants (Prescribed Form and Particulars) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2005 No. 3333 Rating and Valuation, England The Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005 
			 2006 No. 61 Local Government, England The Stratford-on-Avon (Parishes) (Amendment) Order 2006 
			 2006 No. 69 Local Government, England The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006 
			 2006 No. 87 Local Government, England and Wales The Relevant Authorities (Standards Committee) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 
			 2006 No. 88 Local Government, England and Wales The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 
			 2006 No. 91 London Government ; Contracting Out The Transport for London (Best Value) (Contracting Out of Investment and Highway Functions) Order 2006

NORTHERN IRELAND

Adult Literacy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adults in the province are deemed to be functionally illiterate, broken down by (a) Northern Ireland local Government district and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Angela Smith: Information relating to adult literacy levels in Northern Ireland is not available at local Government district or parliamentary constituency level.
	The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), which was conducted in 1996, indicated that 2 per cent. of the adult population in Northern Ireland performed at the lowest level of literacy.
	In response to the IALS report, the Department for Employment and Learning launched the Essential Skills for Living Strategy in October 2002 and has met its interim target of supporting 25,000 adults to improve their levels of literacy and numeracy by March 2005.

Asbestos-related Illness

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people died of an asbestos-related illness in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in each year between 2000 and 2004 where the underlying cause of death was recorded as mesothelioma 1 or 'asbestosis' 2 .
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code C45 for years 2001–2004 and Ninth Revision codes 158.9 or 163.9 for year 2000.
	2 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes J61 and J92.0 for years 2001–04 and Ninth Revision code 501 for year 2000.
	
		Number of registered deaths by year in Northern Ireland resulting from asbestos related illnesses (mesothelioma and 'asbestosis')
		
			 Registration year Mesothelioma 'Asbestosis' Total 
		
		
			 2000 37 6 43 
			 2001 54 9 63 
			 2002 42 12 54 
			 2003 46 9 55 
			 2004 51 14 65

Belfast City Hospital (Radiotherapy)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients from (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Irish Republic and (c) elsewhere have received radiotherapy treatment at Belfast City Hospital in each of the last six months.

Shaun Woodward: The number of patients from (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland receiving radiotherapy treatment at Belvoir Park Hospital from July 2005 to December 2005 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  (a) Northern Ireland (b) Republic of Ireland 
		
		
			 July 266 0 
			 August 261 0 
			 September 284 0 
			 October 306 0 
			 November 272 0 
			 December 274 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. No patients outside of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland received radiotherapy treatment.
	2. Belvoir Park Hospital is part of Belfast City Hospital Health and Social Services Trust.
	Source:
	Belfast City Hospital Health and Social Services Trust.

Brain Injury Unit (Castlereagh)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the work of the Reconnect-acquired brain injury rehabilitation unit in Castlereagh; how much funding the unit has received from Government in each of the last three years; and how much funding has been allocated to the unit for the next three years.

Shaun Woodward: Reconnect provide valuable rehabilitation support for people with acquired brain injuries.
	I also understand that Reconnect has recently reshaped their service comprehensively and further developments are under way to expand the scope of the organisations activities via the person-centred, social inclusion/reintegration model.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in conjunction with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board provided funding in 2004–05 and 2005–06 of £300,000. At present, no decisions have been taken on future funding.

Child Poverty in Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures are in place to tackle child poverty in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: New Targeting Social Need (NTSN) is Northern Ireland's high level policy for tackling poverty and social exclusion by directing efforts and resources, within existing departmental programmes, towards people, groups and areas in greatest social need.
	In line with a commitment of the previous Northern Ireland Executive, Government have recently reviewed its policy in this area, and in light of this, will soon announce its priorities for tackling poverty, including child poverty in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Children's and Young People's Unit of OFMDFM is also currently developing a 10-year strategy for children and young people. One of the high level outcomes will be linked to the reduction in child poverty.
	Government already targets significant resources at tackling child poverty in Northern Ireland, for example working tax credit, and child tax credit, both provide financial assistance for working families on low incomes. In addition working tax credits also provide help for childcare, benefiting around 11,000 families with an average of around £58 per week.
	In addition, Government are placing significant emphasis on initiatives that focus on the early years of life, such as the Sure Start and Book Start and the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme. Building on these initiatives, the Northern Ireland priorities and budget 2006–08, launched on 14 December 2005, established two new ring fenced priority funding packages—the children and young people, and the skills and science funds.
	These funds, worth around £96 million over the next two years, will play an important role in giving children the best start in life, and tackling child poverty. Government will announce further details on these funds shortly.

Children (Strangford)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children resident in Strangford constituency travel outside the constituency to attend grammar school.

Angela Smith: In 2004–05, there were 3,111 pupils who were resident in the Strangford constituency and travelled outside the constituency to attend a grammar school.

Children's Commissioner

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of the Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The cost of the Commissioner for Children and Young People's office for the financial year 2004–05 was £1.725 million.

Contraception

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many females (a) aged 16 and (b) 15 years or less have received contraceptive injections or implants in the Province in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available in totality due to contraceptive injections and implants being available from a number of health facilities where either the data are not collected centrally or are not collected in the age bands stipulated in the question.
	The only contraceptive information collected centrally by age breakdown is for Family Planning Clinics. Please note contraceptive injections and implants are also available from general practitioners—information is only available on the number of prescriptions rather than the number of females and no age breakdown is available.
	Both contraceptive injections and implants are available at specialist clinics such as Family Planning Clinics; this does not involve issuing a prescription. The available information for this service is the number of first attendances in each financial year for the age groups under 16 and 16–19 by main method of contraception (see following table). Please note data are not yet available for 2004–05.
	
		Number of first attendances in each financial year, 2001–02 to 2003–04
		
			 Main method of contraception 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Contraceptive Injections
			 Under 16 33 35 17 
			 Aged 16–19 391 515 407 
			 Contraceptive Implants
			 Under 16 6 3 2 
			 Aged 16–19 60 72 77 
		
	
	Note:
	The information is recorded in respect of the first visit during the financial year, therefore the figures equate to the total number of females attending these clinics during the year. The main method of contraception used refers to the method currently in use or to be started immediately after the consultation.

Day Case Procedures

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost of a hospital day case procedure was in each health trust in the Province in 2004–05.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Lady with the information as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library.

Day Case Procedures

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many day case procedures were conducted in 2004–05 in each health trust in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: The number of day case procedures 1 conducted at each health trust in Northern Ireland in 2004–05 are shown in the following table:
	
		Number of day case procedures(35) carried out in surgical specialties by health trust for the year 2004–05
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Mater Infirmorum 7,309 
			 Belfast City 6,258 
			 Royal Group 25,910 
			 Green Park 3,575 
			 UC&HT 15,170 
			 Down Lisburn 6,705 
			 United 15,301 
			 Causeway 6,344 
			 Craigavon Group 9,721 
			 Newry and Mourne 3,542 
			 Altnagelvin 15,006 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 4,510 
			 Total 119,351 
		
	
	(35) For the purposes of this question a day case procedure has been taken to mean a procedure undertaken within a surgical specialty, where the patient did not require an overnight stay.
	Source:
	Hospital Inpatient System

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase in-patient dental surgery provision in Northern Ireland for individuals with complex needs.

Shaun Woodward: The vast majority of patients with complex needs requiring dental treatment are treated as out-patients, either in a primary care setting or in a day procedure unit within a secondary care setting. A small number of these patients require to be treated as in-patients and across Northern Ireland as a whole, in-patient provision is considered adequate. There have been problems experienced in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB) recently in identifying adequate in-patient services for learning disabled patients requiring dental treatment under general anaesthetic. The Board has assured the Department that it will improve the in-patient provision available to patients from their area by identifying additional sessions in their area and, if necessary, securing in-patient services from the other Boards.

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on access to NHS dentists in the Newry and Kilkeel area.

Shaun Woodward: I am satisfied with the level of dental provision in the Newry and Kilkeel area both in terms of availability and accessibility. The health service provides a full range of dental services through general dental practitioners, the community dental service and the hospital dental service. No one in that area should be unable to obtain health service dental treatment.
	General dental practitioners are the main providers of dental services in Northern Ireland. There is approximately one general dental practitioner for every 2,400 people in Northern Ireland. This compares to one practitioner for every 2,773 people in England, Scotland and Wales.
	The full range of dental services they provide is supplemented by the community dental service, operating under the control of health and social services trusts, which has a specific role in treating patients with learning difficulties and screening school children. The community dental service also acts as a 'safety net' in circumstances where the services of a general dental practitioner cannot be obtained. The hospital dental service provides specialist dental services.

Departmental Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in London Headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office has not purchased any wide screen televisions for its London Headquarters in the last five years.

Doctors (National Contract)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether staff grade and associate specialist doctors in the Province will be covered by a national contract for their grades.

Shaun Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is currently not part of the formal negotiation process on a new contract for these doctors. However, officials from the Department attend the negotiating meetings in an observer status. It is too early to say what the outcome of the negotiations will be and how it may impact in Northern Ireland.

Drug Treatment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend services for the treatment of intravenous drug users in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: There are no current plans to extend services for the treatment of intravenous drug users. However the form, format and level of current services continue to be assessed, and the newly launched consultation document New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs in Northern Ireland 2006–2011 does contain proposals in respect of the commissioning and provision of such services.

East Londonderry (Employment)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by Invest Northern Ireland to ensure viable long-term employment opportunities are being introduced to the East Londonderry constituency.

Angela Smith: Since it was set up in 2002, Invest NI has made offers of assistance in the constituency totalling £22 million which will lead to planned total investment in client companies of £61 million; this includes assistance towards a major investment by Seagate at its Limavady plant, which along with a further new investment at Seagate's Londonderry facility will provide 300 new jobs for the area. The agency has also assisted the establishment of over 700 new businesses in the constituency which have the potential to create more than 1,200 new jobs.
	Invest NI is currently implementing an Action Plan for the North West of Northern Ireland, including the East Londonderry constituency. This Plan includes a series of actions to address constraints that are inhibiting business growth in the area. It includes actions to improve the area's business infrastructure, to improve levels of innovation and enterprise in local businesses, to increase the rate of new businesses and to attract inward investment to the area.
	Invest NI is firmly focused on assisting its client companies become more competitive. In pursuing this objective, the agency's priorities are to help them become more entrepreneurial and innovative and more capable of operating in export markets. Ultimately, success in these areas will lead to more viable, long-term employment opportunities.
	Invest NI is committed to maximising the economic development prospects for the East Londonderry constituency and opened an office in Coleraine during 2003 to help strengthen its links with local business interests.

Education (Admissions)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the responses to the recent consultation on new post-primary admissions criteria for Northern Ireland supported the retention of academic selection.

Angela Smith: In January 2004 the Government decided that academic selection in Northern Ireland would end after 2008. The consultation on new admission arrangements for post-primary schools invited comments on options for new admission arrangements which would operate following implementation of the Government's decision. The detailed analysis of the responses received focused on the strength of arguments put forward in support of, or against, the options described within the consultation document, and did not take the form of a statistical analysis of views received.

Energy Prices

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received from (a) industry and (b) voluntary group representatives in Northern Ireland on energy prices.

Angela Smith: Representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry (Northern Ireland) and the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland have expressed ongoing concern about high energy prices in Northern Ireland at meetings with myself and officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
	Specific representations have been received by my colleague the Minister with responsibility for the Department for Social Development from National Energy Action (Northern Ireland), the Transport and General Workers' Union and the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland on the adverse impact that the high energy prices have on the level of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group has reported the outcome of its discussions on energy prices to the Minister for Social Development.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) religious and (b) gender composition is of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: A total of 137 are employed by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. 32 per cent. of the staff are male and 68 per cent. female. A breakdown by religion shows that 36 per cent. of the workforce are Protestant and 58 per cent. are Roman Catholic; 6 per cent. have been classified as 'non determined'.

Essential Skills in the Workplace

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2590W, on Northern Ireland Employer Champions, in which locations it has been possible to influence others to take action; what the response has been; how the profile of Essential Skills was raised in the press; which employer-focused events they attended; and how attendance at employer-focused events helped the Department to implement Essential Skills in the Workplace.

Angela Smith: Employer Champions are unpaid, informal appointments and as such the Department for Employment and Learning does not formally monitor their activities and the response to their work.
	The Department is, however, aware that the Employer Champions contributed articles to the Belfast Telegraph, the Institute of Directors Newsletter and Business First to help raise awareness of Essential Skills in the workplace. Employer Champions also attended a briefing Seminar for Investors in People Advisers and Assessors, took part in a focus group meeting with other employers and Further Education Providers. They attended a Ministerial discussion which helped to influence the Employer strand of the Essential Skills Strategy.

Farming Households (Income)

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farming households in Northern Ireland were living below the Government low-income threshold in each year since 1996–97.

Angela Smith: The sources of income for most farming households are varied and inevitably include many non-farm sources, such as other employment, investments and pensions. Although data are available on average agricultural incomes, there are no reliable data on farm household incomes or on the proportion of farm households that may lie below any given threshold.
	However, data published by HM Revenue and Customs for 2003–04 indicate that there were 37,000 self-employed individuals assessed for tax in Northern Ireland who had at least one agricultural or horticultural source of income. Their average total income was £16,151, of which, 38 per cent. came from agricultural and horticultural activities.

Firefighters

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many part-time firefighters applied to become full-time firefighters in each Northern Ireland fire service station in each of the last five years; and how many of those applications were successful.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not held centrally, either within the Department or by the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland and will take time to prepare. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when the information becomes available.

First Responders

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trained first responders there are in each district council area in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number and distribution of trained first responders is not held centrally. However, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is aware of the schemes set out in the following table. This should not be regarded as a comprehensive list of first responders.
	
		
			 Scheme Location Council Number of volunteers 
		
		
			 Public Access Defibrillation (PAD)(36) North and West Belfast Belfast 270 Lay People 
			  Antrim Antrim 130 Lay People 
			24 PSNI 
			  Ballymena Ballymena 155 Lay People 
			35 PSNI 
			  Magherafelt Magherafelt 85 Lay People 
			23 PSNI 
			 
			 St. John Neighbourhood Responder Scheme Islandmagee Larne 31 
			 
			 Lifesavers West Newtownbutler and Rosslea Fermanagh 24 
			  Gortin and Plumbridge Tyrone 10 
			  Park and Claudy Londonderry 20 
		
	
	(36) Volunteers in this scheme are cardiac defibrillation trained responders and not fully trained first responders in the recognised meaning of the phrase.
	There are approximately 300 volunteers trained in the use of automated external defibrillators by the Cormac McAnallen Trust in the West of the Province. It is understood that this group provide their services at local sporting venues.

Inpatient Procedures (Costs)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost of an elective inpatient hospital procedure was in each health trust in the Province in 2004–05.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Lady with the information as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, column 1074W, on the Lyons Inquiry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written submission.

Angela Smith: The Lyons Inquiry is independent of the Government. Sir Michael Lyons will decide what to publish when he makes available his final report.

Mental Health (Crisis Response)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of crisis response mental health teams across the Province.

Shaun Woodward: Crisis response teams will be developed in line with the recommendations from the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability and the Suicide Strategy.

Mental Health Review

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the final cost of the review of Mental Health and Learning Disability.

Shaun Woodward: The estimated final cost of the review is around £1.2 million.

Mental Health Review

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability to date.

Shaun Woodward: To date, just over £l million has been spent on the Review

NHS Procedure (Costs)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost of an NHS hospital procedure was in each health trust in the Province in 2004–05.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Lady with the information as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library.

Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average number of operations performed by a whole-time equivalent consultant surgeon was in each health trust in the Province in 2004–05.

Shaun Woodward: The average number of operations 1 carried out by a whole-time equivalent surgeon at each health trust in Northern Ireland in 2004–05 are shown in the following table. These figures do not take into account the patient casemix in each trust.
	
		Average number of operations carried out by a whole-time equivalent surgeon in surgical specialties by health trust for the year 2004–05
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Mater Infirmorum 1,440 
			 Belfast City 1,021 
			 Royal Group 1,095 
			 Green Park 1,175 
			 UC&HT 1,117 
			 Down Lisburn 2,076 
			 United 1,597 
			 Causeway 2,136 
			 Craigavon Group 1,357 
			 Newry and Mourne 1,371 
			 Altnagelvin 897 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 806 
			 Total 1,170 
		
	
	(37) For the purposes of this question an operation has been taken to mean a procedure undertaken within a surgical specialty whilst in hospital.
	Source:
	Hospital Inpatient System

Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operations were performed in each health trust in the Province in 2004–05.

Shaun Woodward: The number of operations 1 performed at each health trust in Northern Ireland in 2004–05 are shown in the following table:
	
		Number of procedures carried out in surgical specialties by health trust for the year 2004–05
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Mater Infirmorum 10,726 
			 Belfast City 17,826 
			 Royal Group 59,112 
			 Green Park 17,363 
			 UC&HT 35,152 
			 Down Lisburn 10,382 
			 United 23,652 
			 Causeway 10,084 
			 Craigavon Group 18,114 
			 Newry and Mourne 6,853 
			 Altnagelvin 29,702 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 8,057 
			 Total 247,023 
		
	
	(38) For the purposes of this question an operation has been taken to mean a procedure undertaken within a surgical specialty whilst in hospital.
	Source:
	Hospital Inpatient System

Over-80s

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of 80 years there are in Northern Ireland; and how many he estimates there will be in 2016.

Angela Smith: At mid-year 2004, the official estimate of the Northern Ireland resident population aged 80 years and over was 58,000 people. At mid-year 2016, the Northern Ireland resident population aged 80 years and over is projected to be 78,400 people.

Paediatric Cardiology

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase paediatric cardiology provision in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: I am committed to ensuring that safe, sustainable paediatric cardiology services continue to be available to patients in Northern Ireland.
	The paediatric cardiology service is currently provided at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) by a team of three consultant cardiologists and support staff. There are currently no plans to increase paediatric cardiology provision in Northern Ireland.

Pathways to Work

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the Pathways to Work pilot programmes in Northern Ireland; and when the pilots are expected to finish;
	(2)  what criteria were used to decide where the Pathways to Work pilot programmes would be sited in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Pathways to Work pilots began in Northern Ireland on 3 October 2005; it is, therefore, too early to undertake an assessment of their operation or effectiveness. In Northern Ireland the pilots are currently planned to run until March 2008. Interim evaluations will be carried out after 18 months of operation and full evaluations at a later stage. Indications from the Pilots in Great Britain, which began in 2003, suggest that Pathways is enjoying considerable success in stemming the on-flow to long term benefit dependency.
	The following criteria were considered when selecting areas for inclusion in the Pathways to Work pilots
	the existence of a joint work-focused service delivered through Jobs and Benefits Office in the pilot areas with sufficient available accommodation;
	the need to match GB pilot coverage of annual on-flow to incapacity benefit (IB);
	the need for wide coverage for evaluation purposes;
	the need to target some IB hot-spots" (i.e. where IB claims are high compared to ISA claims);
	the need to avoid initiative overload" in some areas; and
	the capacity of partner organisations, mainly SSA and DHSSPS, to deliver new services in the selected areas within the required timescale.
	It is planned to extend Pathways in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to cover 30 per cent. of annual fresh claims by October 2006. An announcement will shortly be made about the additional pilot areas in Northern Ireland.

Radiotherapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the health trusts in the Province with mobile radiotherapy equipment.

Shaun Woodward: The Cancer Centre at Belvoir Park Hospital in Belfast provides all radiotherapy services in Northern Ireland. Radiotherapy treatment is provided by linear accelerators which are not mobile. There are no health trusts in Northern Ireland with mobile radiotherapy equipment.

Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government's plans are for a phasing out of industrial de-rating in Northern Ireland; and what the average estimated increase is in non-domestic rates for an industrial business as a result.

Angela Smith: The phasing out of industrial derating, which was fully consulted on as part of the overall Review of Rating Policy, came into operation on 1 April 2005 when businesses entitled to industrial derating became liable for rates at 15 per cent. of their full rate assessment.
	The percentage amount of the full rate liability payable in 2006–07 will be 25 per cent., in 2007–08 35 per cent., in 2008–09 50 per cent., 75 per cent. in 2009–10 and in 2010–11 with full rates becoming payable from 1 April 2011.
	As with all new policies the Government will review the phasing out of industrial derating. In this case a reasonable period of time is considered to be two years from the date of implementation.
	The average rate bill for properties entitled to industrial derating in 2005–06 is estimated at £2,290. Over the period of phasing out it is projected to be £3,990 in 2006–07, £5,840 in 2007–08, £8,710 in 2008–09, £13,660 in 2009–10, £14,270 in 2010–11 and £19, 890 in 2011–12.

Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) value significant codes and (b) property attribute types the computer assisted mass appraisal system being used in the Northern Ireland rates revaluation has the capacity to store and evaluate.

Angela Smith: A full list of data fields relating to value significant codes and property attributes which are stored and evaluated by the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal System being used in Northern Ireland will be placed in the Library.

Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate the Government have made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of households whose rates bills will (i) increase, (ii) decrease and (iii) remain the same under the planned rates revaluation and shift to discrete capital values.

Angela Smith: This cannot be determined until the Valuation and Lands Agency completes the revaluation process in the spring of 2006. A study published by the University of Ulster in 2003, using sales information, suggested that the proportion whose bills would decrease following the move to discrete capital based rating would be 61 per cent., while 39 per cent. would face an increased bill. The Department's own analysis supports these estimates and indicates that the proportion of properties which will experience a decrease in bill of more than 5 per cent. is 52 per cent., the proportion that will face an increase in bill of more than 5 per cent. is 35 per cent. and the proportion with no change in bill (that is, between + /- 5 per cent.) is 13 per cent.
	This assumes overall revenues remain static. Furthermore the estimates do not allow for households which may qualify for housing benefit nor does it take into account the moderating impact of a three year transition scheme and any interim arrangements that may be considered for the treatment of district rates.

School Property (Community Use)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the use of school property in Northern Ireland for community activities outside school hours.

Angela Smith: The Children and Young People's Funding Package, which will come on stream in April, includes funding for extended schools. A key element of extended schools is the concept of after-school provision and the wider use of school premises by the local community.

Schools (Suspensions/Expulsions)

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils have been expelled or suspended from schools in Northern Ireland for incidents relating to drugs in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The Department does not hold information on the reasons for suspension and expulsion for each of the last 10 years.
	From the 2002–03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspensions have been gathered annually from each education and library board and relate to the number of individual suspensions not to the number of pupils suspended. In 2002–03, data on substance abuse was combined with alcohol abuse, however in 2003–04 substance abuse was identified separately as shown in the table.
	
		Suspensions
		
			  Substance or alcohol abuse Substance abuse 
		
		
			 2002–03 426 — 
			 2003–04 — 272 
		
	
	Suspension statistics in relation to 2004–05 have still to be fully analysed and I will write to the hon. Gentleman providing the details when they become available in March.
	Reasons for expulsion were first collected in 2003–04. In 2003–04 data on substance abuse was combined with alcohol abuse, however in 2004–05 substance abuse was identified separately as shown in the following table.
	
		Expulsions
		
			  Substance or alcohol abuse Substance abuse 
		
		
			 2003–04 14 — 
			 2004–05 — 10 
		
	
	Each year, data on suspensions and expulsions requested from the boards has become more comprehensive and, from the 2002–03 school year, the Department has been publishing this information on its website, www.deni.gov.uk

Sick Leave

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many of his Department's employees who are within one year of the official retirement age are on extended sick leave;
	(2)  when he will provide an answer to Question 32594, on Departmental employees, tabled by the hon. Member for Monmouth on 24 November 2005.

Shaun Woodward: There are currently no members of staff in the Northern Ireland Office who are within one year of the official retirement age and on extended sick leave.

Ulster Hospital (Development)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on development plans for the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald.

Shaun Woodward: Since a major redevelopment programme at the Ulster Hospital was announced in 2001 more than £38 million has been invested, including the construction of new Maternity and Renal Units. My Department has also recently approved an additional £62 million which will allow the Trust to complete Phase A of the redevelopment programme. The main feature of Phase A will be a new multi-story critical care block incorporating theatres, critical care unit, laboratories and sterile services. To facilitate this development and to ease car parking congestion on the site, a new 500-space terraced car park will be constructed. The car park is expected to be complete in early 2007 when work on the multi-storey block will commence.
	The Trust has also been allocated £1.5 million to invest in conceptual design for the remainder of the hospital site. This includes the appointment of a specialist Exemplar Design Team which will design the new hospital complex and assist with the preparation of a business case that will provide the basis for approving the balance of the planned investment, estimated at £240 million.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from which company the computer-assisted mass appraisal application was purchased by the Valuation and Land Agency; and what the total cost was of the contract and associated liabilities.

Angela Smith: The Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal application was purchased by Valuation and Lands Agency from a consortium of companies lead by ESRI Ireland Ltd. and including Almy Gloudemans Jacob and Denne, Novalis Technologies and Causeway Data Communication Ltd.
	The total cost of the contract signed with the consortium was £659,700 including first year annual liabilities in respect of systems support of £57,120.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training (a) videos and (b) DVDs the Valuation and Lands Agency has produced for its staff and contractors in relation to (i) domestic and (ii) business rates (A) valuations, (B) revaluations and (C) computer-assisted mass appraisal.

Angela Smith: The VLA has produced no videos or DVDs in any of the above areas for its staff and/or contractors.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1082–3W, on the Valuation and Lands Agency, from which Government agency the staff are seconded.

Angela Smith: The two staff are qualified statisticians seconded from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, an Agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Building on New Deal

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have found work as a result of Building on New Deal since its launch; whether his Department retained its target to get 600,000 people into work through the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 24 January 2006
	In November 2004 we published a paper setting out our proposals to pilot Building on New Deal (BoND) in 11 Jobcentre Plus Districts. Since that announcement, we have undertaken detailed planning to ensure that the flexibilities set out in the BoND strategy paper can be fully tested.
	We expect BoND to make a positive impact on the numbers of people helped into work but the Department does not have a fixed employment target for the pilots.

Child Poverty

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions how many and what percentage of children were living in poverty in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators. Detailed information about the number and proportion of children living in low income households is published in Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The information requested is in the tables.
	
		Number of children falling below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income. (Relative low income)
		
			 Million 
			 FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1996–97 3.2 4.2 
			 1997–98 3.1 4.1 
			 1998–99 3.1 4.1 
			 1999–2000 3.0 4.1 
			 2000–01 2.7 3.8 
			 2001–02 2.6 3.7 
			 2002–03 2.6 3.6 
			 2003–04 2.6 3.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resource Survey
	
		Percentage of children living in households with income less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, Great Britain
		
			 FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1996–97 25 33 
			 1997–98 25 32 
			 1998–99 24 33 
			 1999–2000 23 32 
			 2000–01 21 30 
			 2001–02 21 30 
			 2002–03 21 28 
			 2003–04 21 28 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resource Survey

Child Poverty

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children in poverty were estimated to be living in the most disadvantaged areas in each year since 1997; and in which areas the remaining children living in poverty were resident.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available.
	Detailed information about the proportion of children living in low income households is published in Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2003–04", available in the Library. Information is sourced from the family resources survey (FRS), which does not allow for robust estimates below Government office region level. Information is not currently available which enables separate identification of households on the family resources survey by whether they live in disadvantaged areas. Information on deprivation for disadvantaged areas is available in the Office for Deputy Prime Minister's publication The English Indices of Deprivation (2004)".
	The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators, and includes seven communities indicators, which measure outcomes of those in deprived areas compared to the rest of the population.

Child Poverty

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is his policy to increase benefit entitlements to levels that guarantee all children are above the poverty line.

Margaret Hodge: The Government's strategy for tackling child poverty is based on:
	work for those who can, helping parents participate in the labour market;
	financial support for families, with more support for those who need it most, when they need it most;
	delivering excellent public services that improve poor children's life chances and help break cycles of deprivation; and
	support for parents in their parenting role so that they can confidently guide their children through key life transitions.
	Our approach to tackling child poverty is therefore based on a wide range of different policies and is not solely about increasing benefit levels.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he makes comparisons of child poverty levels in the UK with levels in other developed countries; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: International comparisons are important because we aspire to be among the very best performers in Europe on child poverty, on a par with countries such as Sweden and Denmark. A focus on income before housing costs, as adopted in our spending review 2004 target, supports this as this measure is used across other European Union countries.
	'Measuring child poverty', published in December 2003, compares findings with our European Union counterparts. It showed that the UK had the highest child poverty rate in Europe in 1999 (29 per cent.), but according to latest data for 2003, we are now closer to the EU average of (23 per cent.). European comparisons are made using data from the European Household Panel Study, and are not comparable with figures using the Family Resources Survey. Data from 2003 remains the most up to date as this was the last year that data was produced for the UK using this dataset. UK comparisons across Europe will be measured using the European Union Survey of Income and Living Conditions (EUSILC) from autumn 2006.
	'Child Poverty in Rich Nations 2005', a UNICEF report on child poverty, highlights the progress we have started to make in halving child poverty by 2010 and eliminating it by 2020. By 2020, we want to be comparable to the very best countries in the world. Where the UK had a child poverty rate on the UNICEF measure of 15.4 per cent. in 2004, Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) had rates of less than 5 per cent.
	All publications listed are available in the Library.

Child Poverty

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children living in poverty in Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of children living in poverty is not available below regional level.

Council Tax (Pensioners)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether eligible pensioners will receive a £200 payment towards council tax in 2006–07.

Stephen Timms: The £200 age-related payment to help with council tax bills was for 2005–06 only. We have no current plans to make a payment in 2006–07. The Government keeps all tax and welfare policies under review and any changes are considered as part of the normal budget and spending review processes.

Council Tax (Pensioners)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in (a) England and (b) the UK who (i) are eligible and (ii) will claim the £200 one-off payment towards council tax in 2005–06.

Stephen Timms: We estimate around 6.2 million pensioners in England and 7.2 million in Great Britain will be eligible for the £200 age-related payment to help with council tax bills.
	We expect almost all of the £200 age-related payments to be made automatically without the need for a claim because the Department can identify those entitled from existing administrative data.
	Payments made in Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Customer Management System Centres

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average number of days taken was (a) to call back and (b) from call back to interview date for each customer management system centre in the last period for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 31 January 2006
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the average number of days taken is (a) to call back and (b) from call back to interview date for each Customer Management System centre in the last period for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Our aim is to call customers back within 24 hours of the inbound call. The latest data we have available is for week ending 20 January 2006 where the average across all contact centres is 1 working day. The call back data for each CMS contact centre operating call-backs for the same period is listed in the table below:
	
		
			 Contact Centre Week ending 20 January 2006, time taken to call customer 
		
		
			 Blackburn 2 working days ahead 
			 Bootle Following working day 
			 Bridgend Following working day 
			 Coventry Following working day 
			 Derby Following working day 
			 Dundee Following working day 
			 Garston Following working day 
			 Grimsby Following working day 
			 Halifax Following working day 
			 Hastings Following working day 
			 Lincoln Following working day 
			 Lowestoft Same working day 
			 Marton Mere Following working day 
			 Middlesbrough Following working day 
			 Newcastle Following working day 
			 Paisley Following working day 
			 Pembroke Dock Following working day 
			 Poole Following working day 
			 Sheffield Following working day 
			 Taunton Following working day 
			 Telford Following working day 
			 Torquay Same working day 
		
	
	We do not routinely collect data on the number of days from first contact to completion of the work-focussed interview centrally. In my earlier reply to you, in response to PQ 34273, the data was collated over a sample period only from 16 September to 25 November 2005.
	I hope this is helpful

Disabled People (Independent Living)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made in setting up the Taskforce for Independent Living referred to in Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People"; when he expects it will issue its first report; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People" recommended that a Taskforce for Independent Living was established to develop imaginative new solutions and ways forward to actively promote independent living in a variety of ways.
	An official from the Department of Health has already been appointed to the Office for Disability Issues to set up the taskforce and a scoping exercise is now under way. Proposals will be put to the ministerial group in spring 2006 and the taskforce will be established shortly afterwards. The timing of the first report will be confirmed once the taskforce has been set up.

Household Income

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the minimum income which a UK household needs to live on; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Our concerns about research on minimum income standards have been well documented. What people need to live on varies greatly depending on their needs and a range of factors. Different research methods tend to make different assumptions and generate a range of estimates.
	There are a range of research methods such as budget standards, deprivation studies, expenditure studies and consensual studies that can be used to look at questions of absolute and relative adequacy of benefits. We look at all these research methods when assessing benefit levels although it is often difficult to draw strong conclusions as the results are sometimes contradictory.
	In practice, when setting benefit rates other objectives such as the need to maintain incentives to work and the need to control public expenditure are also considered.
	Poverty is wider than income alone. We have a comprehensive strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion. Our annual report 'Opportunity for All' sets out how we are tackling the problems faced by individuals throughout their lives. Monitoring low incomes is one part of a wider strategy for tackling the causes of poverty and social exclusion, not just the symptoms.

Housing Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change in average processing time for housing benefit claims was in (a) Pathfinder and (b) non-Pathfinder areas in each of the last two years.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		Average processing times in days for all housing benefit claims
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 Change 
		
		
			 Pathfinder areas 51 54 +3 
			 Pathfinder areas excluding Leeds(39) 53 46 -7 
			 Non-Pathfinder areas 50 44 -6 
		
	
	(39) Leeds had problems with its software system in 2005 which had a negative impact on the processing times for 2004–05. The average housing benefit processing for all Pathfinders excluding Leeds is 46 days in 2004–05 compared to 53 days in 2003–04.
	Notes:
	1. The reported figures are for housing benefit claims and do not include council tax benefit claims. The processing times cover claims from tenants renting from a social landlord as well as those renting from a private landlord, so the large majority of these claims in Pathfinder areas will not be for the local housing allowance.
	2. The reported averages are weighted averages (by new claim workload).
	Source:
	DWP administrative data, HBMIS.

Housing Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1549W, on housing benefit, whether the evidence collected on work incentives as part of the local housing allowance evaluation will include evidence on (a) the level of income tapers and (b) the level of earnings disregards.

James Plaskitt: The local housing allowance evaluation is collecting evidence on the level of income tapers and this will be included as part of the final evaluation.
	The local housing allowance does not alter the level of earnings disregards and this is not part of the evaluation.

Incapacity Benefit

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of making participation in a rehabilitation scheme compulsory for incapacity benefit claimants who are drug addicts.

Margaret Hodge: We want to make sure that everyone in society has the opportunity to enter into employment including those who misuse drugs. We have been working towards this goal for some time. The progress2work initiative, which supports those who are recovering from drugs misuse into work, has now been rolled out across Jobcentre Plus. It delivers specialist support to help people find and sustain employment. So far, over 4,000 claimants on incapacity benefits have participated in the initiative.
	Our assessment is that making participation in a rehabilitation scheme compulsory for incapacity benefit claimants who misuse drugs would be inappropriate. For drug and alcohol misuse, the most effective medical intervention is likely to be counselling/cognitive behavioural therapy, but neither route is going to be effective unless the patient willingly engages. Compulsory therapy with an unwilling participant is most likely to be ineffective.
	Medical treatment can be agreed as part of a claimant's action plan. This is because an individual can volunteer to undertake treatment (whether of their own volition or by persuasion from a personal adviser) as happens in Pathways. However, for a health care professional to carry out a medical intervention, there must be patient consent. That consent must be informed consent, given freely. In law, consent given under duress is not given fully and freely and the fear of losing benefit could amount to duress. This means that we cannot sanction a claimant for not undertaking medical treatment if they decided they did not want to do it at any point in the process.

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Department for Health on the potential effects of the expert patient programme on incapacity benefit reform; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions have regular discussions with Health Ministers.
	Relationships between the expert patient programme and incapacity benefit reform were considered in the development of our recently published Green Paper; A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work" and the, also recently published, Department of Health White Paper.

Incapacity Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of cutting the rates of short-term incapacity benefit for people under state pension age to the rates of jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost savings from phasing out the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit for people under state pension age for new claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Proposal for reform have been set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper and are subject to consultation.

Incapacity Benefit

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to provide people on incapacity benefit with (a) training, (b) rehabilitation and (c) counselling in order to get them back into work; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government has been piloting Pathways to Work for new Incapacity Benefit Claimants successfully for over two years now. In the Welfare Reform Green paper 'A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work', the Government committed to rolling out Pathways to Work nationally by 2008.
	Pathways to Work gives a single point of access to the New Deal for Disabled People, Work Based Learning for Adults and other training courses. Pathways to Work also offers access to rehabilitation and counselling services in the form of Condition Management Programmes run by health professionals. These programmes typically include pain management and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Incapacity Benefit

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to reduce the number of people claiming incapacity benefit.

Margaret Hodge: We recently published our Green Paper, A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work". It lays out why we are proposing to help those people on incapacity benefit back to work and how we mean to achieve that goal. It is available in the Library.

Income Support

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the annual cost of income support for single parents who are not required to work due to the age of their children; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: A person's status as a lone parent entitles them to claim income support until their youngest child reaches 16. Lone parents in receipt of income support are not required to seek work but do have to attend work focused interviews. The expenditure on income support for lone parents reduced from £4,937 million 1 in 1997–98 to £4,602 million 1 in 2004–05.
	Since 1997 the number of lone parents getting income support has reduced by 22 per cent. The success of new deal for lone parents has been a major contributing factor to the increase in lone parent employment in every region, the reduction in the number of children in workless households and the reduction in child poverty.
	1 Figures are expressed in real terms (2005–06 prices), rounded to the nearest million and consistent with PBR 2005.

Jobcentres

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applicants there have been for a crisis loan in the last six months in the JobcentrePlus offices in West Dunbartonshire; and how many calls from people applying for crisis loans have gone unanswered.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many applicants there have been for a crisis loan and how many calls from people applying for crisis loans have gone unanswered in the last six months in the Jobcentre Plus offices in West Dunbartonshire. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Crisis Loans in West Dunbartonshire were processed by both Clydebank social security office and Helensburgh Jobcentre Plus office. From 22 November, Crisis Loans continue to be processed by Helensburgh but the processing formerly undertaken in Clydebank moved to Inverness social security office. Inverness is not part of West Dunbartonshire.
	Helensburgh handled 730 Crisis Loan applications in the six months from July to December 2005. From July 2005, until the processing of Crisis Loans ceased there on 21 November 2005, Clydebank handled 5071 applications.
	Information on unanswered calls to the Crisis Loan service is not available. This is due to the nature of the telephony system in use at Helensburgh, and that formerly used at Clydebank.

Learning Disability

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what system is in place to monitor the numbers of people with a learning disability who are on benefit and using Jobcentre Plus employment programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what system is in place to monitor the numbers of people with a learning disability who are on benefit and using Jobcentre Plus employment programmes. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as chief executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus monitors, collates, and reports on the numbers of customers with disabilities who use our services, including those claiming benefits and accessing employment programmes.
	In doing this, we do not specifically monitor information on learning disabilities. However, when our advisers are identifying and addressing a customer's needs they record the individual's own definition of their disability on our labour market system. This cannot be extracted as monitoring information, but is used by advisers in subsequent discussions with the customer.
	I hope this is helpful.

Lone Parents

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the rate of movement of lone parents into jobs of the outsourcing of new deal for lone parent provision;
	(2)  what the rate of movement was of lone parents into jobs (a) in London areas where provision for lone parents is outsourced and (b) other areas in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the rate was in those London areas prior to outsourcing.

Margaret Hodge: Multiple provider employment zones have been providing employment support to lone parents since April 2004. Single provider zones have been providing lone parent support since October 2003. In London employment zone areas, employment support is provided to lone parents through the zones rather than through NDLP. Outside London, lone parents in employment zone areas can choose whether to receive help through employment zones or NDLP.
	Information on lone parent employment rates for employment zone areas is not available, either before or after the outsourcing of lone parent provision. This information is not available below Government Office regional level.
	More than 423,000 lone parents have already been helped into work through NDLP and more than 4,200 jobs have been secured by lone parents through employment zones. Information on lone parent jobs secured through employment zones in the last 12 months, broken down by zone, is in the table.
	
		Employment zones—lone parents into jobs 1 December 2004 to 30 November 2005
		
			 Location Jobs 
		
		
			 Multiple Providers  
			 Birmingham 371 
			 Brent and Haringey 637 
			 Glasgow 352 
			 Liverpool and Sefton 380 
			 Southwark 544 
			 Tower Hamlets and Newham 282 
			   
			 Single Providers  
			 Brighton 18 
			 Doncaster 195 
			 Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland 100 
			 North West Wales 25 
			 Nottingham 75 
			 Plymouth 6 
			 Heads of the Valleys, Caerphilly and Torfaen 71 
		
	
	Note:
	Data comparing employment zone job outcomes with NDLP job outcomes prior to outsourcing is not available.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Procurement Division.
	An evaluation of employment zones is currently ongoing and analysis of data will examine the performance of employment zones in relation to selected Jobcentre Plus comparison sites. This analysis will examine performance by client groups including lone parents and we expect to complete this by the autumn and publish results by the end of the year.

Lone Parents

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish evaluations of the impact on numbers of lone parents entering employment of (a) the work search premium, (b) discovery weeks, (c) in work credit, (d) extended schools child care pilots, (e) the in work emergency fund and (f) employment zones.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 February 2006
	Evaluation of the impact on the numbers of lone parents entering employment through a range of initiatives including the work search premium, the in-work credit and the extended schools child care pilots is ongoing and we expect to publish results in the autumn.
	The in-work emergency fund (IWEF) is being evaluated as part of the evaluation of new deal plus for lone parents and we expect to publish this report in December. Early qualitative evidence on the IWEF will be available in the forthcoming report: 'Work Focused Interviews and Lone Parent Initiatives: Further analysis of policies and pilots' which will be published on the 16 February and will be placed in the Library. There are no plans to publish any assessment of discovery weeks.
	Evaluation of employment zones is currently ongoing and analysis of data will examine the performance of employment zones in relation to selected Jobcentre Plus comparison sites. This analysis will examine performance by client group including lone parents. We expect to complete this by the autumn and publish results by the end of the year.
	Three recent publications include qualitative analysis of lone parents' experience of employment zones and relevant information can be found in the following reports: Evaluation of the Single Provider Employment Zone Extension, DWP Research Report No.312, 2006, Chapter 6; Evaluation of Multiple Provider Employment Zones: Early Implementation Issues, DWP Research Report No.310, 2006, Chapter 7; Evaluation of Single Provider Employment Zone Extensions to Young People, Lone Parents and Early Entrants: Interim Report, DWP Research Report no. 228, 2005, Chapter 7, all of which are available in Library.

Lone Parents

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the forecast cost is of introducing work-focused interviews every three months for lone parents whose youngest child is 14 and who have been on benefit for more than a year;
	(2)  how many personal advisers will be needed for work focused interviews (a) every three months for lone parents on benefit more than a year whose youngest child is 14 years and (b) every six months to all lone parents on benefit for more than a year.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 February 2006
	Quarterly work focused interviews were introduced in October 2005 for lone parents claiming income support (IS) with a youngest child aged at least 14. For lone parents who remain on IS until their youngest child reaches 16, this will involve a series of up to eight work focused interviews over a two year period, which is six more than under previous arrangements. The interviews aim to help as many lone parents as possible move into work, or closer to the labour market, before their child reaches 16 by providing information, advice and guidance on work opportunities and the range of help on offer.
	We estimate a total expenditure of approximately £4.3 million on this initiative during 2005–06, £0.7 million of which represents the cost of an anticipated increased participation in new deal for lone parents resulting from the work focused interviews. It is too early to confirm allocations for 2006–07.
	Potentially all Jobcentre Plus lone parent advisers could be involved in delivering these quarterly work focused interviews, but funding for the initiative is based on a planning assumption of the equivalent of an additional 65 full time staff for the period October 2005 to March 2006 or 130 for a full year.
	Currently, lone parents who have been on income support for more than a year receive an annual work focused interview which provides information, advice and guidance on work opportunities and the range of help and support on offer. Results from these have shown that such interviews help lone parents think about work and many go on to prepare for it by joining new deal for lone parents.
	In our Welfare Reform Green Paper: 'A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work', we set out our proposals to increase the frequency of interviews for lone parents on income support for more than a year to six monthly. This will build on the above success by providing additional opportunities for lone parents to meet with a lone parent adviser.
	We are also proposing changes to our quarterly work focused interview regime which will now be widened to all lone parents on income support with a youngest child aged at least 11.
	These proposals are currently out for public consultation and the delivery details are still being developed.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has sent a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions has not sent a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

Pathways to Work

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the full Pathways to Work scheme will commence in April; and whether West Dunbartonshire will be included in this.

Margaret Hodge: In April 2006 seven more Pathways to Work pilots will start. The locations for these have been chosen to reflect the highest proportion of new claims. The April 2006 pilots will be:
	Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster: City of Sunderland; County of Durham; Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire; Liverpool and the Wirral; Greater Manchester Central; Swansea Bay and West Wales.
	In the Welfare Reform Green paper 'A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work', the Government committed to rolling out Pathways to Work across the whole of the United Kingdom by 2008.

Pathways to Work

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the funding per person on the Pathways to Work programme for each person entitled to access the programme for each year from 2000–01 to 2008–09; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The latest estimate for the average funding per person on the Pathways to Work programme, for each person entitled to access it, is around £400, excluding the return to work credit.
	The Pathways to Work programme pilots began in October 2003 and costs per person vary from claimant to claimant, depending on the different components available within the Pathways package taken up. We do not expect the cost of these components to change markedly in future years, in real terms.

Pathways to Work

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost per participant was in Pathway to Work pilots since their introduction.

Margaret Hodge: The latest estimate for the average cost of the funding per person on the Pathways to Work programme is around £400, excluding the return to work credit.

Pathways to Work

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost to his Department has been of a participant in the Pathway to Work pilots since the scheme was introduced.

Margaret Hodge: The latest estimate for the average cost of the funding per person on the Pathways to Work programme is around £400, excluding the return to work credit.

Pensions

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what options other than bank or building society accounts pensioners will be able to choose for receipt of pensions after 2010.

James Plaskitt: We expect that there will always be a small number of people who we are unable to pay into an account. These customers are paid by DWP cheque which can be cashed at post office branches. In addition, we will continue to monitor wider developments in the banking industry as more efficient and secure ways of paying customers become available. Within this, there will be opportunities for Post Office Ltd. and others to provide payment services.

Pensions

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the final version of the Contracting Out Regulations (The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations) will be published.

Stephen Timms: Most of the amendments in the draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations are connected to, and dependent on, changes in the Finance Act 2004 and will be taken forward in an HM Revenue and Customs Order. The remaining amendments will be included in a miscellaneous set of DWP regulations. It is planned that both statutory instruments will be made by mid-March and will come into force on 6 April 2006.

Pensions Protection Fund

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement onthe operation of the Pensions Protection Fund to date;
	(2)  how many applications to the Pensions Protection Fund have been received to date.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Protection Fund became operational on the 6 April 2005. It will pay compensation to members of eligible non money purchase pension schemes where an employer becomes insolvent and the scheme is unable to afford to pay benefits at the level of PPF compensation.
	The Board will produce an annual report and set of accounts for its activities in respect of each financial year, which the Secretary of State will present to Parliament.
	To date, there are 40 schemes in an assessment period for the Fund, accounting for over 21,500 scheme members.

Post Office Card Account

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met Ministers from the (a) Treasury and (b) Department of Trade and Industry to discuss (i) financial inclusion and (ii) the future of the Post Office Card Account.

James Plaskitt: I, my ministerial colleagues and officials have regular discussions with HM Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry about a range of issues, including the Government's wider financial inclusion agenda and the Post Office Card Account.

Workplace Accidents and Health Report

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 2060W, on workplace accidents and health report, when he will place in the Library the data for 2003–04.

Anne McGuire: The Commons Library has confirmed that the information requested by the hon. Member was deposited when I gave my written reply to his original question, 24 January 2006, Official Report, column 2060W.

HEALTH

Ambulance Service

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given to the ambulance service on the passing on of information to the police relating to call-outs involving drugs.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The Government's 2001 response to the advisory council on the misuse of drugs report into drug related deaths said that:
	An emergency call to a person who has overdosed should be viewed by the ambulance and police services as a medical emergency in the first instance. Ambulance controls should not as a matter of course inform the police when called to a drugs overdose but might do so if the original call indicated some risk to the safety of the ambulance crew, difficulty in access or other unusual circumstances. Additionally, when the original call indicates that the patient might be dead or the paramedic finds that to be the case on attendance, it is reasonable to expect that the police would be informed immediately.
	Local policy along these lines should be agreed through the Drug Action Team".
	In addition, the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (part funded by the Department) national clinical practice guidelines set out that overdoses from, or use of, illegal drugs would not warrant ambulance crews to provide a lesser level of patient confidentiality than any other health condition. Only when drug use is compounded by situations such as sudden or suspicious death would it be appropriate to override the duty of confidentiality.

Ambulance Service

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of emergency ambulance coverage in (a) Forest of Dean constituency and (b) Gloucestershire.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Each ambulance service should plan to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand. This may include resources in addition to traditional ambulance provision, for example in using rapid response vehicles and motorbikes, as well as utilising staff such as community paramedics or emergency care practitioners. The fleet mix will vary across the country depending on operational and geographical requirements. Patients who need a traditional ambulance response will continue to receive one.

Ambulance Service

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of resources available to the Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Revenue allocations are made direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) and not to national health service trusts. The PCTs in Avon, Gloucester and Wiltshire received an average increase of 30.5 per cent. over the last three years, which is sufficient to ensure all parts of the local health services have sufficient resources. Decisions on how the resources are used is for local discretion.

Ambulance Service

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the financial situation of the Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Gloucestershire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust is forecasting a breakeven position for 2005–06 at the mid-year point (month six).
	The forecast out-turn position for 2005–06 month six, for all NHS organisations (strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts), is available in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOflnformation/ClassesOflnformation/fs/en

Ambulance Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ambulances in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) the Cotswolds (i) there were in 2000, (ii) there were on the latest date for which figures are available and (iii) are projected in the current three year plan.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Each ambulance service should plan to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand. This may include resources in addition to traditional ambulance provision, for example in using rapid response vehicles and motorbikes, as well as utilising staff such as community paramedics or emergency care practitioners. Patients who need a traditional ambulance response will continue to receive one. The fleet mix will vary across the country depending on operational and geographical requirements.

Aylesbury Vale PCT

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the policy implications for her Department of the growth in population in Aylesbury Vale.

Caroline Flint: In relation to the policy on allocating revenue funds to primary care trusts (PCTs), ensuring that a robust population base is used to allocate funds is a primary consideration.
	The revenue allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08, announced in February 2005, are based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) population projections. These data are the best available population data, which properly take account of growing populations.
	In addition, in conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), a Growth Area Adjustment" was included in the 2006–08 revenue allocations for designated ODPM growth areas. This adjustment supports those PCTs that will experience considerable population growth as a direct consequence of additional housing development in the growth areas. The Vale of Aylesbury PCT received a growth area adjustment within its 2006–08 revenue allocation. This adjustment is based on the additional increase in population, over and above ONS figures, that is due to the Government initiative.

Childhood Vaccinations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list vaccinations routinely given to infants.

Caroline Flint: This information is available on the Immunisation for Life's website at: www.Immunisation.nhs.uk/article.php?id=97.

Clinical Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she collects on the extent to which provision of clinical services is outsourced or undertaken by private sector or community sector partners; and in which (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS trusts (i) clinical services and (ii) management is provided other than by directly employed staff.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 25 January 2006
	The annual financial returns of national health service trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities show the total expenditure on services provided by all non-NHS bodies, including local authorities, other statutory bodies, and the independent sector.
	Contract and activity monitoring information is collected on the centrally procured independent sector elective and diagnostic treatment programmes.

Continence Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of progress by NHS and social care organisations in developing integrated paediatric continence services;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education and Skills concerning the implementation of the National Service Framework for Children in respect of paediatric continence services.

Liam Byrne: The assessment of availability and access to effective, and quality led health care, and the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, form a part of the Healthcare Commission's duties. The national service framework (NSF) for children provides a standard for determining progress with establishing integrated community-based paediatric continence services, by reference to a continence Essence of Care" best practice tool. The Department has regular contact with the Department for Education and Skills on the means by which children who have health care needs may be supported in schools and early years settings, as part of achieving the goals of the NSF. The Department has also funded the voluntary organisation Promocon to draft guidance for the use of schools, relating to children with continence problems.

Crack Cocaine

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many crack cocaine users are in tier four residential drug services.

Caroline Flint: In 2004–05, 511 individuals were reported to the national drug treatment monitoring service in tier four treatment with the main problem drug of crack cocaine. Of these, 115 were in inpatient treatment and 396 were in residential rehabilitation. In the same year, 969 people were reported in tier four treatment with crack as their secondary drug of use—368 in inpatient treatment and 601 in residential rehabilitation.

Darent Valley Hospital

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons venereal disease treatment at Darent Valley Hospital has been reduced; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for providing sexual health services which meet the needs of their local populations, and decisions about the level of services will be agreed in the context of other health priorities.
	I understand from inquiries made with Kent and Medway strategic health authority that some short-term changes have been introduced at the Darent Valley Hospital clinic, but that services are being managed in a way that minimises any impact on the public.
	In planning the local delivery of services, PCTs must work towards the targets to improve access to genitourinary medicine (GUM) and reducing sexually transmitted infections set out in the public health White Paper. The Department is allocating £145 million nationally to PCTs to improve access to GUM services. Sexual health has now been identified as one of the top six priorities for the national health service in 2006–07.

Drug Treatment Programmes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Government employees are involved in delivering treatment for abuse of illegal drugs.

Caroline Flint: The Government do not employ staff in drug treatment directly.
	The National Treatment Agency reported that the number of people working in the drug treatment sector in England has increased from 6,794 in March 2002 to 10,106 in September 2005. These are employed by the national health service and a range of voluntary sector agencies.

Drug Users

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been available in each of the last five years for the treatment of problem drug users.

Caroline Flint: The Department and the Home Office have combined the funding provided centrally for drug treatment. Known as the 'pooled treatment budget', this money is allocated to the 149 drug action teams (DATs) across the country. This budget has increased from £142 million in 2001–02 to £300 million in 2005–06.
	The pooled treatment budget allocation since 2001 is shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Pooled treatment budget allocation, 2001–02 to 2005–06
		
			  Amount (£ million) 
		
		
			 2001–02 142 
			 2002–03 191 
			 2003–04 236 
			 2004–05 253 
			 2005–06 300 
		
	
	The 149 DATs also receive funding from the local organisations that form part of the DAT. This includes primary care trusts (PCTs), local authorities (LAs), strategic health authorities (SHAs) and probation services. The National Treatment Agency monitors how this money is spent.
	In addition to this investment a substantial amount of mainstream funding is made available. Estimates of these amounts for the past five years are shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2: Estimated funding, 2001–02 to 2005–06
		
			  Amount (£ million) 
		
		
			 2001–02 145 
			 2002–03 131 
			 2003–04 200 
			 2004–05 (40)204 
			 2005–06 (40)208 
		
	
	(40) Local funding increases based on two per cent, inflation increase.
	In addition to the money spent directly on delivering treatment, central and local government funding is also spent on improving access to treatment and supporting drug misusers after they come out of treatment, for example social services aftercare and supporting people grant.

GM Safety Research

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what Government-funded studies were carried out to ascertain the safety of genetically modified products intended for animal or human consumption since 1999; what the cost to public funds of such studies were; and what steps she plans to take as a result of these studies;

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the Government-funded feeding studies designed to ascertain the safety of GM products intended for animal or human consumption which have been undertaken since 1999; what the cost to public funds has been of such studies; and what action to safeguard public health she plans to take as a result of such studies.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned work under three research programmes relevant to the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods. The current programme began in 2005 and aims to ensure that the most up to date scientific knowledge is used in the mandatory safety assessment of GM and other types of novel foods. Prior to April 2000, food safety research was the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF). The cost of the research funded by MAFF and the FSA into issues related to GM food safety during 1999 to 2005 was £9.72 million.
	Four of these projects involved experiments where ingredients from GM plants were fed to human volunteers or farm animals in order to examine the fate of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) present in the plant material. The cost of these projects from 1999 onwards was £0.62 million.
	Details of the individual research projects are presented in the annual reports of the FSA's research and surveys programmes, which are available in the Library, and also from the FSA's website. The results have provided reassurance that the most up to date science is applied to the safety assessment of GM foods, and they lay the foundations for the possible application of new technologies such as proteomics in the future. No action is planned on the basis of this research.

GP Practices (Uxbridge)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices there are in the Uxbridge constituency; and what the average number is of patients registered with a practice in Uxbridge.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. However, figures for the average number of registered patients per general practitioner practice for Hillingdon primary care trust as at September 2004 is shown in the table.
	
		Average number of registered patients per general practitioner practice for Hillingdon primary care trust, as at 30 September 2004
		
			  Numbers (headcount) 
		
		
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT  
			 Registered patients 259,010 
			 GP practices 53 
			 Average number of patients per practice 4,887 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Late Payments

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1671W, on late payments, if she will make an assessment of the effect of late payments on small and medium sized firms; what guidance she has given to NHS professionals regarding this; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: NHS professionals are required to comply with the Confederation of British Industry's Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC) target of paying 95 per cent. of undisputed invoices within contract terms or 30 days where no terms have been agreed.
	In 2004–05, NHS professionals exceeded this target, paying 97 per cent. of its bills on time. We have made no assessment of the effect of late payments on small and medium sized firms.

Meat (Labelling)

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether meat that is reared abroad but processed in the UK may be labelled British.

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether meat that is reared abroad but processed in the UK may be labelled British.

Caroline Flint: The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 defines country of origin as the country in which a food last underwent a treatment or process resulting in a substantial change. Therefore, products made from meat that has been processed in the United Kingdom can be labelled as British. However, the Food Standards Agency has issued best practise guidance which recommends that where a product is declared to be British, but the meat originates outside of Britain, this should be made clear on the label.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent estimate she has made of the number of people diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis in England; and how this estimate is made;
	(2)  what definition her Department uses of myalgic encephalomyelitis;
	(3)  what funding has been allocated by the Government for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis in the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect the information requested on the number of people diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis in England. The report of the independent Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) Working Group, published in January 2002, estimated, on the basis of results from a number of small-scale studies, a population prevalence of around 0.2 per cent. to 0.4 per cent. in adults and around 0.07 per cent. in children.
	CFS/ME is the accepted umbrella term for patients experiencing a combination of variable and overlapping symptoms. While there is no universal definition of CFS/ME, the widely used ones all require significant fatigue and a set of attendant symptoms for at least six months.
	On funding for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 501–02W.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings officials from her Department have had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to discuss Herceptin.

Jane Kennedy: Departmental officials have had no specific meetings with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to discuss the drug Herceptin.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings her Department has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to discuss the appraisal of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease in the last year.

Jane Kennedy: Departmental officials have had no specific meetings with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to discuss drugs for Alzheimer's disease. The progress of this appraisal has been discussed on a number of occasions within the context of NICE'S wider work programme and as part of regular communications between the Department and NICE.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings (a) she and (b) her Ministers have had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the last 12 months to discuss approval of Herceptin.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State and departmental Ministers have had no specific meetings with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to discuss the drug, Herceptin.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings Ministers in her Department have had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the last 12 months to discuss the prescribing of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Jane Kennedy: Ministers have had no specific meetings with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to discuss drugs for Alzheimer's disease in the last 12 months.

NHS Confederation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been provided to the NHS Confederation from (a) her Department's budget and (b) the NHS budget in each financial year since 1997–98.

Liam Byrne: The information requested for years 2001–02 is shown in the table. Information before 2001–02 could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. The increased amount paid in 2003–04 and 2004–05 reflect the transfer of activities from the Department of Health.
	
		Central payments to the national health service Confederation by the Department of Health
		
			 £ 
			 Account name 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 The NHS Confederation 299,685 60,420 759,741 1,864,666 
			 NHS Confederation Project Company 0 544,139 1,065,665 1,663,516 
			 NHS Confederation Trading Company 333 0 0 0 
			 The NHS Confederation Trading 0 0 30,795 0 
			 NHS Confederation (Employers) — — — 2,763,803 
			 Total 300,018 604,559 1,856,200 6,291,985

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 732W, on NHS finance, what expert advice was provided to NHS trusts forecasting a deficit prior to her written statement of 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS, on NHS finance, that turnaround teams were being established.

Liam Byrne: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for delivering overall financial balance for their local health communities, and for ensuring that each and every body achieves financial balance. It is for SHAs to determine how best to support their local organisations to achieve this objective. This includes the provision of expert advice. Details on how SHAs have managed their local organisations is not held centrally.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 732W, on NHS finance, with which companies her Department has contracted to provide turnaround support.

Liam Byrne: The turnaround teams were announced by the Secretary of State in a written ministerial statement on 1 December 2005. The teams will comprise of experts with a mix of commercial and national health service turnaround skills.
	The first stage of this is a baseline assessment, the aim of which is to ensure there is an agreed understanding of the local financial problem and that actions are in hand to address this.
	The contract for the baseline assessment was awarded to consultants KPMG. The consultants Ernst and Young were subcontracted by KPMG to undertake a small number of assessments to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
	After the baseline assessments are complete a tailored package of turnaround support will be agreed by the local NHS.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, columns 2742–43W, on obesity, what progress has been made in setting up the national partnership of obesity; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Over the coming months, the Department will explore with relevant non-governmental organisations how it could support the establishment of a national partnership for obesity. As set out in the Choosing Health White Paper, the objective will be to promote practical action on the prevention and management of obesity and provide a source of information and evidence of effectiveness.

Operations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the potential impact of primary care trust debt on the carrying out of routine hospital operations.

Liam Byrne: All national health service organisations have minimum standards of quality they must deliver, including meeting targets for maximum waiting times. These are dramatically better than the standards of the NHS in the past and there can be no trade-off between these quality standards and removing deficits.

Prescriptions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of NHS prescription items issued by general practitioners were repeat prescriptions in 2004–05;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the percentage of NHS patients who received more than 14 prescription items over the last 12 months who had bought a 12 month prescription prepayment certificate.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not readily available from data available to the Department. Information on prescriptions from the Prescription Pricing Authority does not link individual patients to prescriptions dispensed. Therefore it is not known how many prescription items were repeat prescriptions or how many prescription items patients received.

Public Health

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public health campaigns her Department (a) is running, (b) has announced and plans to start in 2006 and (c) has promised but not yet announced a start date for.

Caroline Flint: The Department is currently running tobacco education, drug prevention (FRANK, jointly with Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills) and 5 a Day public health campaigns. The Department has also announced plans for a sexual health campaign to start in 2006, and to launch a long-term obesity social marketing programme in the autumn of 2006. Its focus will be on providing the general public with the necessary information and support to lead healthier lifestyles in relation to diet and physical activity, and has promised but not yet announced a start date for a campaign on alcohol harm reduction.

Sexual Health

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under 16 years have attended a sexual health clinic in (a) West Lancashire and (b) Lancashire in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The number of new episodes of selected diagnoses (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes and warts) in the under 16 age group seen in genitourinary medicine clinics in Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority for 2004 is 85.
	The data contains the number of new diagnoses and not the number of people attending. The latter is not collected centrally.

Smoking Ban

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of public houses in the Hammersmith and Fulham constituency likely to be exempt from a smoking ban under the provisions of the Health Bill; and what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the Health Bill on health inequalities within the Hammersmith and Fulham constituency.

Jane Kennedy: The Health Bill has not been assessed on the basis of its likely impact on the constituency of Hammersmith and Fulham nor on any other individual constituency. No estimate has been made of the number of public houses in Hammersmith and Fulham in this context.
	A partial regulatory impact assessment for the Health Bill has been published and is available in the Library.

TB Vaccinations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason it is her policy not to make TB vaccinations available to children or adults who might be in contact with cattle diagnosed with bovine TB.

Caroline Flint: There are approximately 1 per cent. of human tuberculosis (TB) cases attributed to M. bovis each year. Most of these cases are reactivated disease in older adults who were infected perhaps decades ago or are due to more recent infections contracted abroad.
	The strict policy of testing cattle for TB infection combined with meat inspection and pasteurisation of milk and milk products has dramatically reduced the risk from bovine TB. While transmission of tuberculosis from cattle to humans is possible, it is extremely rare. There has been no reported case of transmission of bovine TB from cattle to a child in England and Wales since the Health Protection Agency national reporting system MycobNet began in 1993.
	In the event of children coming into contact with cattle with tuberculosis the general principles for contact tracing are the same as for contacts of a human case of tuberculosis and should be limited to close contacts likely to have had significant exposure to infection. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination may be offered to previously unvaccinated tuberculin negative children who have been exposed to cattle with tuberculosis.

Walk-in Centres

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated at NHS walk-in centres in each year since their inception; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There are now 72 national health service walk-in centres open and a further 17 in development. Since the first NHS walk-in centre opened in 2000, the number of visits has increased each year, which is shown in the table
	
		NHS walk-in centres, 2000–01 to 2004–05
		
			  Total number of visits 
		
		
			 2000–01 574,000 
			 2001–02 1,143,000 
			 2002–03 1,372,000 
			 2003–04 1,582,000 
			 2004–05 2,068,000 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health.
	NHS walk-in centres focused on serving commuters are beginning to open with newly opened centres near Liverpool Street station in London and Piccadilly station in Manchester. The Government's White Paper, Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services" published on 30 January 2006 highlights that NHS walk-in centres already provide easy access to a range of primary care services and commits to further expansion of these services, according to local need.

Working Time Directive

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the financial impacts of extending the working time directive to junior doctors.

Liam Byrne: The European working time directive (WTD) is health and safety law. The Government negotiated an extension to the WTD for doctors in training to enable phased implementation from August 2004. Actual costs of the financial impact of extending the working time directive to doctors in training are not held centrally and could not in any case be separated from the overall cost of the national health service growth and modernisation.